site.btaJustice Minister, North Macedonia Ambassador Discuss Judicial Reform, Prosecution of War Crimes in Ukraine

The rule of law as a fundamental European value, the judicial reform in Bulgaria and the prosecution of war crimes and crimes against peace and humanity committed in Ukraine topped the agenda of a meeting between Justice Minister Atanas Slavov and North Macedonia’s Ambassador Agneza Rusi Popovska, said the Justice Ministry on Monday.

“It is important for us as a candidate for EU membership to learn from the Bulgarian experience, especially in the area of the rule of law,” Ambassador Popovska said. She also expressed interest in the forthcoming amendments to the Criminal Code related to the prosecution of war crimes in Ukraine.

"Enforcing the rule of law is a common challenge for all EU countries. Only in the last nine months, with the amendments to the Constitution adopted in December last year and with the draft of a new Judiciary Act ready, we have managed to implement all the recommendations made to us 15 years ago to ensure the independence of the judiciary", Minister Slavov said.

He also presented the forthcoming amendments to the Criminal Code, which adapt the Bulgarian criminal law to the modern standards of the crime of aggression under the Rome Statute, as well as crimes against peace and humanity. The Minister outlined as a challenge Bulgaria's engagement in real investigations of war crimes in Ukraine.