site.btaBulgaria Will Support Ukraine's Justice System, Justice Minister Says

Bulgarian Justice Minister Atanas Slavov and Ukrainian Ambassador in Sofia Olesya Ilashchuk on Thursday discussed opportunities for interaction in the area of justice, Slavov's Ministry said in a press release.

"Let me assure you that the Bulgarian Government supports Ukraine in its struggle to stand up for its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. We continue to express our solidarity in the context of EU's efforts for holding responsible the perpetrators of crimes against humanity and war crimes in Ukrainian territory," he said.

Slavov said that Bulgaria is ready to share in the restoration of the Ukrainian justice system, including by support for the investigation of Russian war crimes. In his assessment, the two countries are making similar efforts to implement anti-corruption measures. The Justice Minister said Bulgaria is willing to assist in this area by sharing experience and cooperation.

Slavov said that Bulgaria has supported Ukraine's inter-State application against Russia at the European Court of Human Rights and has intervened in the case concerning Allegations of Genocide under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Ukraine v. Russian Federation) at the UN International Court of Justice. 

He informed Ambassador Ilashchuk that Bulgaria supports the Office of The Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC) and, within the framework of its strong support for that institution, has been expressing its position in favour of ICC's universality in ending impunity.

The Justice Minister said that drafting of amendments to the Penal Code are in an advanced phase, so that the latest amendments to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court could become part of Bulgarian legislation and new forms of crime are prosecuted. So far Bulgaria has not acceded to the amendments which insert a definition of the crime of aggression including acts of aggression regardless of a declaration of war, which is the case of the war in Ukraine.

Slavov and Ilashchuk also considered the opportunities for exchange of experience regarding the fulfilment by Ukraine of the criteria to qualify for negotiations on accession to the EU.