site.btaEuropean Public Prosecutor's Office Confirms Suspension of Bulgarian Member, Politicians React

The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) confirmed on Friday that it has suspended its Bulgarian member Teodora Georgieva. On March 26, EPPO said that its College has decided to open an administrative enquiry into possible wrongdoing by the Bulgarian European Prosecutor in the framework of an ongoing EPPO investigation.

"The EPPO emphasizes that it has implemented the full spectrum of internal measures to safeguard the integrity of its investigations," spokesperson Tine Hollevoet said in a statement on Friday. "As the strongest measure available against any risk or perception of compromised integrity of investigations, the supervising Bulgarian European Prosecutor has been temporarily suspended. This is without prejudice to the outcome of the administrative enquiry."

"No further details will be made public at this stage," Hollevoet noted.

Georgieva was suspended amid accusations of connections with a notorious fixer in the judiciary and in the wake of her recusal from a probe into a faulty project for expansion of Bulgaria’s Chiren gas storage facility over fears for her own safety. 

On Thursday, Georgieva alleged that MRF – New Beginning Floor Leader Delyan Peevski had pressured the contractors to deviate from approved specifications of the facility’s expansion and safety protocols for personal gain, and that he had pressured a European prosecutor not to take certain official actions. EPPO has been investigating Chiren's expansion since summer 2024 over alleged misuse of EU funds. Georgieva added that she felt threatened by Peevski.

Peevski, designated under the US Global Magnitsky Act in 2021 and sanctioned by the UK in 2023 for alleged corruption, denied the accusations on Thursday. He said he will appeal Georgieva’s claims before the Bulgarian prosecution service.

Political reactions

Continue the Change (CC) Co-Chair Assen Vassilev Friday described as "very disturbing” the information that has emerged in the public domain that Georgieva was pressured by Peevski. The party's press centre reported that CC has submitted a report to EPPO, calling for an investigation into Georgieva’s allegations against Peevski. A copy of the report was submitted to the Bulgarian prosecution service, urging the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Bulgaria to request Peevski’s MP immunity if necessary.

MRF - New Beginning Floor Leader Peevski commented that there is extensive corruption in the judiciary. "All dependencies in the judiciary must come to light. There must be revelations about who is connected to whom in EPPO" he added. Peevski argued that the European Public Prosecutor's Office worked closely with Continue the Change Co-Chair Kiril Petkov, and asked why Petkov was a frequent guest in the office of European Prosecutor Georgieva, who has been linked with notorious judiciary fixer Petyo “the Euro” Petrov.

Vice President Iliana Iotova expressed the hope that the competent national and European institutions will do their work and find the truth. “As an MEP I took part in the working out of the status, competence and authority of the European Public Prosecutor. The raging scandal questions the work not just here in Bulgaria of the authorities concerned, but of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office,” she told journalists. In her words, the truth must come out exactly for that reason, especially on the eve of Bulgaria’s accession to the eurozone.

National Assembly Chair Nataliya Kiselova said that Bulgaria should avoid becoming “a bad example” within the functioning EPPO. She questioned whether it was advisable for European Prosecutor Teodora Georgieva to give media interviews, pointing out that while this highlights an existing issue, journalists cannot provide solutions. Kiselova, a constitutional law professor, underlined that those investigating sensitive matters always risk intimidation, but conditions must be created to ensure that individuals involved in such work can complete their tasks without worrying about their loved ones or themselves. Kiselova also commented on leaked recordings allegedly made by Petyo “The Euro” Petrov, emphasizing the need to confirm their origin and authenticity.

The Chiren gas storage expansion is a BGN 600 million project led by Bulgartransgaz, aimed at doubling capacity and modernizing the underground facility. Bulgartransgaz Executive Director and former caretaker energy minister Vladimir Malinov has denied any wrongdoing in the project's implementation and insists that all actions have complied with Bulgarian legislation.