site.btaPrime Minister, Justice Minister Raise Questions about Assignment of Legal Cases

Prime Minister, Justice Minister
Raise Questions about
Assignment of Legal Cases


Sofia, December 6 (BTA) - Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and
Justice Minister Hristo Ivanov on Saturday called on the Supreme
 Judicial Council to take urgent and transparent action in order
 to dispel all doubts about the reliability of the judicial case
 assignment system. They also expect answers to all questions
about the operation of the Commercial Division of the Sofia City
 Court.

The joint statement of Borissov and Ivanov comes after
irregularities were reported in the bankruptcy case of the
Domaine Menada Winery and Belvedere Distribution, as well as
other cases.

The statement further said that it is also important for
Bulgaria's international reputation to investigate all
suspicions of embezzlement which have been discussed over the
last few days.

The executive branch of government may not interfere in the
proceedings in concrete legal cases or in the work of judicial
institutions, but when systemic problems are exposed, the
executive and judicial branches of government cannot just sit
back, because they have constitutional responsibilities,
Borissov and Ivanov reasoned.

The problem with the Commercial Division of the Sofia City Court
 implies that all government authorities have for many years
refused to address pressing issues affecting the judicial
system. This particular problem has seriously affected the
investment climate in Bulgaria, the country's relations with
major international partners and the public confidence in some
judicial institutions, the statement said. This has a bearing on
 Bulgaria's dialogue with the European Commission and the EU
member states as regards the Cooperation and Verification
Mechanism in the field of justice and home affairs, the
statement concluded. SN/VE

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