site.btaSCC President Panov Refuses to Appear Before Counter-corruption Commission

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SCC President Panov Refuses
to Appear Before
Counter-corruption Commission


Sofia, November 12 (BTA) - The Supreme Court of Cassation said on Monday that its President Lozan Panov has refused to appear before the counter-corruption commission for an interview in connection with an ongoing probe.

According to Panov, it is unacceptable to be summonsed in his capacity as court president. "Such an approach violates the constitutional principle for separation of powers and the essence of the rule-of-law state. I believe that there are no legal grounds for appearing before the commission," he in reply to the Commission.

Panov argued that the summons had been handed by three employees of the commission to Pavlina Panova, Vice President of the Supreme Court of Cassation. However, under the commission's rules of organization and the counter-corruption law, the commission may only summon and interview citizens and not heads of judicial institutions. LI/PP
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