site.btaUPDATED Acting Prosecutor General Holds Talks in Madrid

On a visit to Madrid, Bulgaria's acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov received assurances from Spain's State Attorney General Alvaro Garcia Ortiz that the Spanish prosecution service is ready to assist Bulgarian prosecutors with its expertise in investigating various types of crime.

Earlier on Tuesday, Sarafov talked with Maria Jose Martinez Rordiguez, who heads Spain's drug prosecution office.

Bulgarian representatives have already had talks with their Spanish counterparts in the direction of improving cooperation on cyber affairs. Investigating the rapid trafficking of people and money requires knowledge of new technologies, Sarafov noted.

Sarafov also pointed out that during his meetings in Madrid he was informed that the recent increase in cases of computer crime was 300%. He argued that this is a trend that will not be stopping soon. Possibilities for strengthening cooperation between the Bulgarian and Spanish prosecution services in countering cybercrime, as well as cross-border organized crime in general, were discussed during his visit.

“We discussed the level of interaction between the prosecution services of Spain and Bulgaria. In our work, we both use the European arrest warrant, for investigations and for confiscation. We are pleased to have a direct link with our Bulgarian colleagues,” said the head of International Cooperation Unit at the  Spanish Attorney General’s Office, Francisco Fernandez.

Sarafov said he was most impressed by the public's trust in the Spanish Prosecution Office and expressed hope that this would also occur in Bulgaria. According to him, the Prosecution Office should be evaluated not by past but by present and future actions.

On the Bulgarian delegation led by Sarafov are Elena Karakasheva, Deputy Prosecutor General at the Supreme Administrative Prosecutor's Office, and Svetoslav Vasilev, head of the Cybercrime Department at the National Investigation Service.