site.btaSupreme Judicial Council Initiates Disciplinary Proceedings against Sofia District Prosecutor

The Prosecutor’s Chamber of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) initiated disciplinary proceedings against Sofia District Prosecutor Nevena Zartova.

The proposal was made by Deputy Prosecutor General Maria Pavlova based on a report of a thematic revision of the work on the organisation, management and control of the activities of the Sofia District Prosecutor's Office (SDPO) from January of 2022 until the end of July this year.

A team of prosecutors from the Supreme Cassation Prosecution Office (SCPO) carried out 58 inspections of SDPO prosecutors. Evidence of irregularity and/or failure to effectively supervise supervising prosecutors has been found, and in some of the pre-trial proceedings - evidence of disciplinary violations or breaches of work organisation. In only two cases has Nevena Zartova exercised her powers to hold her subordinates disciplinary responsible for deficiencies in their work.

The proposal points out that the lack of adequate reaction in these cases by the administrative head of SDPO reinforces citizens' dissatisfaction and negatively affects the prestige of the judiciary.

The pre-trial proceedings in which Zartova had exercised leadership and supervision were also examined. The conclusions of the audit team were that the investigations were not conducted in a rhythmic manner, in some cases there was inaction, decrees to extend the statutory time limit by deputy district prosecutors in the SDPO authorized by her, which were in contradiction with the law.