site.btaGeneral Assembly of Attorneys in Bulgaria Held in Sofia

A General Assembly of Attorneys in Bulgaria, convened by the Supreme Bar Council, was held in Sofia on Saturday.

In a congratulatory address, Parliament Chair Raya Nazaryan expressed confidence in the good cooperation between the legislative branch and representatives of the Bar, which, in her words, will continue in the interest of Bulgarian citizens. “The Bulgarian Bar has made a substantial contribution to strengthening the country governed by the rule of law and upholding the supremacy of the law and the country’s democratic values. Each of you faces significant responsibilities and challenges, because citizens rely on the quality protection of their interests and lawful rights,” Nazaryan wrote.

“I express my respect for the professionalism, responsibility, and dedication with which you defend the rights, laws, and interests of citizens and uphold the authority of the legal profession. I am confident that this meeting will provide an opportunity for an open discussion on issues significant to the profession, contributing to its development and to strengthening trust in the justice system,” Marinika Cherneva, Acting Chair of the Supreme Administrative Court, wrote in her congratulatory address.

In an official address read by National Legal Aid Bureau Chair Natalia Ilieva, caretaker Justice Minister Andrey Yankulov said he believes in open partnership between public institutions and the Bulgarian Bar, because justice reform cannot just be an administrative act.

“I am convinced that you will achieve high goals despite the obstacles you encounter along your path. Dear attorneys, I believe that the challenges before you will serve your growth as guardians of the rights and freedoms of Bulgarian citizens,” Sofia Appellate Court President Daniela Doncheva said in her message.

Sofia City Court President Rusi Aleksiev said the rule of law could be strengthened and trust in the legal profession increased only through mutual respect, dialogue and standing by principles. “In these times, when society expected consistency, integrity and professional courage from the legal community, we are called to work together,“ Aleksiev said.

In an address on behalf of the Union of Bulgarian Jurists, its representative Mario Dimitrov urged attorneys to continue defending their positions on the quality of legal education. He also called on them to uphold the independence explicitly enshrined only in the Bulgarian Constitution. He further encouraged them to exercise wisdom in their decisions and to remain free to express their will. Dimitrov added that he hoped their joint work would continue.

Natalia Ilieva thanked outgoing Supreme Bar Council Chair Ivaylo Dermendjiev and the members of the Council for their cooperation with the National Legal Aid Bureau. She congratulated attorney Stefan Marchev and the newly elected Council members on the start of their new term, wishing them health, wisdom, resilience, and constructive work.

Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) Director General Kiril Valchev stressed the importance of the Bar in defending media freedom and referred to a specific case in which a BTA journalist faced a police check for filming in public places. “This case is yet another reminder of how vital the protection of fundamental rights remains, because the right to information is not a mere formality but a cornerstone of a democratic society,” Valchev said, adding that he believed Bulgarian journalism would continue to count on attorneys’ support in upholding these principles.

The Supreme Bar Council is a legal entity based in Sofia. It consists of 15 regular members and 10 reserve members elected for a four-year term of office by the General Assembly of Attorneys in Bulgaria, according to the Council's website. The General Assembly is made up of representatives of bar councils at a ratio of 1 delegate per 40 attorneys. The General Assembly also elects the President of the Supreme Bar Council who is included in the number of the Council’s regular members. Two Vice Presidents and a Secretary General are elected from among the members as well.