site.btaAssociation of Prosecutors: Murder of Martin Bozhanov Unveiled Behind-the-scenes Mechanism of Influence

The Association of Prosecutors in Bulgaria published on Thursday a position statement in which it said that the murder of Martin Bozhanov had unveiled a behind-the-scenes influence mechanism. The conclusion, according to the association, is that organised corruption threatens the rule of law and public security.

"The assassination of Martin 'the Notary' Bozhanov brought down the curtain that concealed for years a backstage mechanism of influence on the political and judiciary power, penetrating the bar, the economy and the media and aimed at abusing state power and public resources for private benefit", the association said. 

The statement reads that although facts surrounding the case are still being sorted out, they warrant the conclusion that organised corruption threatens the rule of law and public security. "Tackling corruption is not the responsibility or in the control of one authority or institution alone, but requires a joint effort," the organisation said.

According to the Association, declaring a lack of confidence in the prosecution service or in another institution in advance is not only not principled and not constructive, but contributes to the ineffectiveness of the institutional response to crime.

"We adamantly object and oppose all unprincipled attempts to throw mud at the institution, which by vocation works to protect the public interest," the position said.

It is also stated that the Bulgarian Prosecution Office employs honest, responsible and erudite professionals, and the institution has the necessary training, capacity and moral stability to establish the whole truth in an objective, comprehensive, complete and transparent investigation without undue delay.

Martin "The Notary" Bozhanov was shot dead in a gated complex in a Sofia suburb on the evening of January 31. According to media reports, he was a large-scale fixer of people's problems with the judiciary. He has been implicated in building a network of connections with prosecutors and judges whom he allegedly bribed, threatened, blackmailed or otherwise pressured to treat his "clients" favourably. Pretrial proceedings have been initiated into an organized crime group.