site.bta Prosecutors General from Southeastern Europe Meet in Sofia

Bulgaria's acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov is hosting the 4th Forum of Prosecutors General of the Balkan States in Sofia until October 7, the prosecution service said. The forum opened on Sunday.

The forum brings together the heads of prosecution services from Southeastern Europe and partner institutions from the EU. It is held on the initiative of the Prosecutors General of Bulgaria and Turkiye. The first event was held in 2019 in Izmir. This is the second time Sofia is hosting the forum, which aims to maintain stable partnership and interaction among the prosecution services of the Balkan countries in criminal law matters, the fight against cross-border organized crime, and and illegal migration.

Discussions at the 4th Forum of Prosecutors General of the Balkan States focus on countering terrorism and drug trafficking, investigating crimes committed in a digital environment with cryptocurrencies, and strengthening cooperation with third countries to counter transnational crime in the Balkan region.

Borislav Sarafov is at the centre of a controversy regarding his service as acting Prosecutor General. On October 2, the Supreme Court of Cassation ruled that his six-month mandate had expired on July 21. In response, the prosecution service accused the court of pursuing a political agenda and deepening instability within the judiciary.