site.btaDeputy Justice Minister Presents Bulgaria's Judicial Reform and Anti-corruption Legislation at Forum in Atlanta

The fight against corruption is a long-standing priority of the Bulgarian government, Deputy Justice Minister Emil Dechev said at the 10th UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) Conference of the States Parties (COSP), quoted in a Justice Ministry press release on Tuesday.

The forum, marking the 20th anniversary of the UNCAC, is taking place in Atlanta, US. The Bulgarian delegation includes the head of the Justice Minister's political office, Borislav Ganchev.

Addressing the forum, Dechev said that the Bulgarian government is taking active steps to strengthen the independence of the judiciary, to introduce an effective mechanism for holding the prosecutor general and his deputies accountable for crimes committed, to increase the institutional capacity of the Interior Ministry Inspectorate.

In recent years, Bulgaria has also amended the Penal Code to explicitly address cases of active bribery and influence peddling where the advantage is intended for a third party. Major changes have been introduced in the corporate liability regime, the press release says.

Among Bulgaria's anti-corruption measures, the adoption of a separate Whistleblower Protection Act was also reported, which spells out detailed measures to protect whistleblowers in the public and private sectors, the statement adds.