site.btaProsecutors' Chamber Seeks Acting National Investigation Service Head Proposals

The Prosecutors' Chamber of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) decided at a meeting on Wednesday to request that acting Prosecutor General Vanya Stefanova submit proposals for an acting Director of the National Investigation Service (NIS) within three days.

The Chamber had been expected to appoint an acting Director on Wednesday but postponed its decision because statements from the Service's two Deputy Directors indicating whether they were willing to assume the post had not yet been received.

The Prosecutors' Chamber also decided to launch a procedure for the election of a Director of the NIS.

Ognian Damyanov of the Chamber said that nominations for the post can be made by three members of the Prosecutors' Chamber, the Prosecutor General and the Minister of Justice. "As far as I know, the Prosecutors' Chamber will not nominate a candidate, nor will the Prosecutor General," Damyanov said.

On May 27, the Prosecutors' Chamber of the SJC accepted the resignation of Borislav Sarafov as Director of the National Investigation Service and Deputy Prosecutor General.