site.btaUPDATED Former Justice Minister Anton Stankov Passes Away

Former Bulgarian Justice Minister Anton Stankov has passed away. Justice Minister Nikolay Naydenov voiced his condolences to Stankov’s family, relatives, friends and colleagues in a Facebook post on Thursday.

Naydenov described Stankov as a lawyer, magistrate and statesman who devoted a significant part of his professional career to Bulgaria’s justice system and its institutions. He said the Bulgarian legal community had lost a respected lawyer who had left a lasting mark on the country’s legal and public life.

Later in the day, President Iliana Iotova also offered her condolences over Stankov's passing, saying that he "will forever be remembered as one of the most prominent advocates of the rule of law, unwaveringly guided by an ideal of justice." "Anton Stankov was deeply aware of his personal and professional responsibility to strengthen the rule of law, always showing concern for others and respect for the institutions of the State. In this shared mission, we will miss both his professional authority and his human qualities," Iotova noted, as cited by the President's Press Secretariat.

"Throughout his life, he was unwaveringly guided by an ideal of justice. His loss leaves a profound void not only for those closest to him but also for the entire legal community and for our society as a whole. We all sought and relied on his professional experience and critical thinking in finding solutions to pressing social issues," the head of State added. 

Iotova also highlighted Stankov’s active civic commitment to upholding universal human values. "At one of our last meetings, just weeks ago, he spoke with concern about aggression in society, particularly among young people. He did not shy away from criticizing the lack of respect for the law and human dignity," she said, adding that Stankov had always contributed through his depth of thought, professionalism, expertise, genuine commitment, and vision for the future.

Anton Stankov was born in 1966. He began his judicial career as a district judge at the Shumen District Court, where he served from 1991 to 1994, before becoming a district judge at the Sofia District Court from 1994 to 1998. He subsequently served as a judge and deputy chair of the Sofia City Court from 1998 to 2001. Stankov also taught criminal procedure at the St. Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia from 2000 to 2001 and chaired the Criminal Division of the Sofia City Court from 1999 to 2001. He served as Minister of Justice, Keeper of the State Seal and chair of the Supreme Judicial Council from July 24, 2001, to August 16, 2005. During the same period, he chaired the Commission for Coordination of Anti-Corruption Efforts, from February 7, 2002, to August 16, 2005. Stankov returned to the Sofia City Court as a judge from September 2005 to June 2007. From 2008, he served as an arbitrator at the Arbitration Court of the Bulgarian Industrial Association. Stankov was also deputy chair of the National Bureau for Control of Special Intelligence Means from May 30 to October 22, 2009, and managing partner of the law firm Stankov, Stoev and Partners from 2012 to 2022.