site.btaProsecutor Attacked in Sofia, Association Condemns “Brutal Assault”

The Association of Prosecutors in Bulgaria (APB) has condemned an assault on a prosecutor outside his home in Sofia. The APB Management Board said in a media statement on Tuesday that the victim suffered multiple blows with a blunt object the previous evening. His condition is currently stable, the APB said.

Bulgarian National Television (BNT) identified the victim as Ivo Iliev, former deputy city prosecutor of Sofia. BNT quoted own sources as saying that Iliev was attacked in the underground garage in the building where he lives. He received blows with a hammer from a masked man. He is in intensive care in a hospital, but his condition is stable, the public broadcaster said. It added that pretrial proceedings were instituted over attempted murder.

In its statement, the APB described the assault on the magistrate as an unacceptable and brutal attack against the Bulgarian state. It called the incident a logical consequence of the ongoing and relentless verbal assaults targeting the work of individual prosecutors and the Prosecution Service as an institution. The APB warned that the constant and unjustified attacks on the Prosecution Service — which every prosecutor silently endures — foster hatred toward the institution, disgust toward prosecutors, and mistrust in their work, regardless of their efforts and achievements.

“Prosecutors hold a strong and dignified place in the fight for truth and justice. Through honest and tireless work, they defend the rights and interests of those affected, often at the expense of their own health, family comfort, and peace of mind. The Bulgarian Prosecution Service is staffed by many conscientious, honourable and fair individuals — people of high moral standards, professionalism, and compassion for the pains of justice,” the statement reads.

“Such actions against a magistrate gravely and unjustifiably damage the honour of the prosecutorial profession,” the Association said. It declared its full support for every Bulgarian prosecutor, affirming that it will defend their rights and interests just as prosecutors defend those of all others — and that it will use every lawful means to oppose any unjustified attack against them.