site.btaUPDATED It Is President Radev's Move Now, Justice Minister Says

As of now, it is the President's move to make, Justice Minister Atanas Slavov told journalists on Friday, following the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) vote to dismiss Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev for undermining the prestige of the judiciary. The motion for Geshev's removal was made by four members of the Prosecutors Chamber and was backed by 16 votes with four voting against it.

"The decision should be now sent to the President, the final step is the President's decree", Slavov said, as only one step remains before Geshev is dismissed - President Rumen Radev has to decide whether or not to issue a decree for his removal.

Slavov added that President Radev has no deadline to issue the decree, but the procedure itself implies a quick ruling.

The request before the Constitutional Court, filed by Geshev, has been accepted, but no case has been initiated yet. However, this is not a reason for the President to stop the removal procedure, Atanas Slavov emphasized. On June 5, Prosecutor General Geshev submitted to the Constitutional Court a request to declare unconstitutional provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code and the Judicial System Act (JSA) related to the refusal to initiate pre-trial proceedings, the mechanism for independent investigation of the Prosecutor General and the election of members of the SJC.

According to Slavov, the motion for Geshev's removal is not a sole decision. The SJC sends its proposal to the President. The final step is the President's decree, which could be a subject to constitutional review, the Justice Minister explained.

"In this case, the SJC is exercising its discretion and therefore I will not allow the CC to replace the SJC's discretion with its own decision. In my opinion, this procedure is non-appealable," Slavov added.