site.btaFormer Justice Minister Georgiev Says He Leaves Ministry with Over 50 Draft Laws and Progress on Key Reforms

Former justice minister Georgi Georgiev told journalists as he left the Justice Ministry on Thursday that he was leaving with his head held high and with more than 50 draft laws and regulations prepared, as well as progress on reforms related to the Recovery and Resilience Plan.

He handed over the post to caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Andrey Yankulov, noting that their meeting lasted more than an hour and focused on briefing his successor on the ministry’s current priorities.

Georgiev said that a significant portion of the reforms under the Recovery and Resilience Plan fell within the justice portfolio and that, thanks to them, more than EUR 2 billion in funds for Bulgaria had been unlocked.

As one of the main highlights of his term, Georgiev pointed to measures taken against the so-called "property mafia". According to him, this is a long-standing problem that did not arise over the past year, but in recent months "extremely important battles" have been fought, which should be continued by the next leadership to guarantee the protection of citizens and the security of their property.

As an example, he cited a joint operation by the Interior Ministry and the prosecution service, in which more than 50 participants in criminal schemes were identified, and seven people were arrested and charged. In his words, this is proof of tangible results in tackling organized crime in the sector.

Georgiev also underlined the social impact of the ministry’s work, reporting that more than 400 elderly people had been removed from illegal care homes he described as "houses of horror". He added that more than 30 such facilities had been shut down and that legislative amendments now provide for imprisonment instead of the previous fines, which he said would have a stronger deterrent effect.

Among the achieved results, the former minister also highlighted progress on anti-money laundering commitments. He said that 100% of the Justice Ministry’s tasks had been fulfilled and that Bulgaria had met 24 out of 25 international recommendations. It now remains for the judiciary to demonstrate effective implementation of the new laws through concrete investigations and convictions, he added.

Asked about the new minister’s stated intention to seek the dismissal of acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov, Georgiev said that the minister has full freedom to express positions and recalled that he himself had referred similar cases to the Supreme Judicial Council.

The former minister said he would continue his work as a member of parliament.