site.btaAssociation Drafts Mechanism to Protect Prosecutors from Pressure, Encroachment on Independence

A draft of a mechanism with the Governing Board of the Association of Prosecutors in Bulgaria (APB) for support, protection, and institutional response in cases of pressure, threats, or damage to the professional image of prosecutors has been sent the members of the association for discussion, the Association said. After the conclusion of the internal discussion and a summary of opinions, the Association will assess what future steps to take.

The draft has been prepared within the framework of the expert activity of the Scientific and Expert Council to the APB and is intended to serve as a basis for internal professional discussion within the prosecutorial community. The proposed text regulates a procedure for timely and institutional response in cases of unlawful pressure, threats, inadmissible influence, and campaigns aimed at discrediting prosecutors in connection with the performance of their official duties.

The draft provides for short deadlines for initial assessment, review of submitted signals by APB’s Governing Board, the possibility of referring cases to competent institutions, and undertaking appropriate actions to protect the lawful rights, professional interests, and professional image of prosecutors.
According to the Association, protecting the independence of prosecutors is a matter of legality, institutional stability, and trust in the judicial system. An effective response to pressure, threats, and public attacks is important not only for the individual magistrate but also for the proper functioning of the prosecution as an institution.
Justice Minister  Andrey Yankulov pledged support for any magistrate who is willing to come forward publicly and speak about dependencies and criminal influence within the judicial system. The minister’s team also declared its support for a new civic initiative for an independent and free judicial system.