site.btaMEP Vigenin Asks European Chief Prosecutor about Possible Interference in Election of EPPO Bulgarian Prosecutor

The head of the delegation of the Bulgarian socialists in the European Parliament, Kristian Vigenin, asked European Chief Prosecutor Laura Kovesi about possible external interference in the election of a Bulgarian prosecutor in the European Public Prosecutor's Office, the Bulgarian Socialist Party said on Thursday. It was prompted by a leaked video last Monday allegedly showing Bulgaria's European Prosecutor Teodora Georgieva discussing a corruption scheme benefiting her with notorious judiciary fixer Petyo "Evroto" Petrov. The video came with an attached letter allegedly signed by Petrov, implicating Georgieva in corrupt practices. 

Vigenin raised the issue during a debate on the report on the work of the European Public Prosecutor's Office for 2024 at a joint meeting of the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs and Budgetary Control committees in the European Parliament. 

"The recording raises serious questions about possible external interference, financial arrangements and political pressure in the appointment of a Bulgarian prosecutor to the European Public Prosecutor's Office," Vigenin said and stressed that for more than a week there has been no reaction from either the institution or from prosecutor Teodora Georgieva herself.

"In view of the high ethical standards that the prosecutors of the European Public Prosecutor's Office have to adhere to, do you think that this silence is acceptable? What concrete steps will you take to ensure that this case does not undermine the credibility of the institution?" asked Vigenin.

The MEP asked whether the European Public Prosecutor's Office had an internal mechanism to ensure the integrity of the delegated prosecutors not only during their appointment but also in the course of their work.

In response, Laura Kovesi explained that an investigation is currently underway into events that might have taken place before the appointment of a European delegated prosecutor from Bulgaria. For this reason, she could not comment on the specific case. However, Kovesi assured that the European Public Prosecutor's Office has various mechanisms to ensure ethical standards and discipline among its prosecutors. In her words, the institution applies strict rules and procedures that ensure transparency and integrity in the work of delegated prosecutors. She assured that mechanisms were in place to transfer cases between prosecutors, as well as the possibility of replacing supervising prosecutors if necessary. Kovesi stressed that the European Public Prosecutor's Office strictly adheres to the highest ethical standards to ensure the credibility of the institution.