First comments by President after released telephone tappings

The first comment by Bulgaria’s President Rumen Radev after the Prosecutor's Office released recordings of telephone tappings made by special surveillance devices, coincided with a message from the Prosecutor's Office on January 29 that it ceased any contact with the presidential institution, except for official written correspondence.

The President said that the Prosecutor's Office had been devalued and the constitution violated. Yesterday, January 28, the state prosecution released a recording of a telephone conversation between Air Force commander General Tsanko Stoykov, and a man, whom the prosecution claims is the President. According to the Chief Prosecutor, there are reports that the President was involved in obstructing a check of the anti-corruption commision related to his wife, Dessislava Radeva.

In January 2019, a signal was submitted to the anti-corruption commission for a possible conflict of interest against the wife of President Rumen Radev.

Bulgaria’s Chief Prosecutor, Ivan Geshev, on January 27 asked the Constitutional court to interpret the Constitution's provision on the immunity of the President and Vice President. The Prosecutor’s Office said on January 28 that the Chief Prosecutor’s request for a Constitutional Court ruling on presidential immunity was prompted by an investigation into the possible obstruction of a separate investigation by the anti-corruption commission.

Today, January 29, the Head of State said the attacks on him and his family were "taking on an ugly dimension".

The Chief Prosecutor responded that the prosecution was doing its job by law - gathering evidence, and then when they were sufficient, to proceed to charges if there are violations of the law, regardless of who committed them - poor, rich, ordinary people or vested in power.

The Head of State commented that there were no violations committed by him in the evidence released by the prosecution. Rumen Radev is firm that he did not breach the law.

Rumen Radev, President of the Republic of Bulgaria: Unfortunately, the Prosecutor's Office devalued yesterday. Two concepts important for the protection of statehood - high treason and violation of the Constitution, using them as a media sensation in the inquiry to the Constitutional Court, and subsequently motivating them with recordings in which all suggestions were self-denying.

According to the Chief Prosecutor, Ivan Geshev, the job of the prosecution is to gather evidence and to press charges when there are sufficient grounds. Geshev commented that it was irrelevant to the state prosecution whether or not someone had a huge fortune or whether someone was in a managerial position.

Ivan Geshev, Chief Prosecutor: What is in the media and was published as a press release by the Prosecutor's Office is a suspension order, excerpts from it to be precise, which is authorized by the supervising prosecutors.

The President saw personal motive in the actions of the Prosecutor’s Office.

Rumen Radev, President of the Republic of Bulgaria: The attacks against me and my family have not stopped, but they are already gaining ugly dimensions and are being carried out regardless of the means.

Ivan Geshev, Chief Prosecutor: The Chief Prosecutor has no personal enemies. He does not engage in personal battles. We have principled opinions on matters of principle regarding compliance with the law.

According to the President, the actions of the state prosecution of the recent days show once again how important the issue of constitutional changes is - changes that will guarantee the independence of the judiciary.

The Prosecutor's Office announced that until the Constitutional Court comes out with a decision on the question for the immunity of the President and Vice-President, they would cease contacts with the institution of the head of state, except official correspondence in writing.

Ivan Geshev, Chief Prosecutor: In order to strictly adhere to the principle of separation of powers and to avoid any suspicion of influence on the institutions, we have not stopped communication with the Presidency, but have stopped all contacts except written, official correspondence.

The Prosecutor’s Office did not comment on whether they will participate in the meeting announced by President Rumen Radev with the so-called. the "three big in the judiciary," which is part of the consultations on constitutional changes that the President initiated after the election of the new Chief Prosecutor.

After a telephone conversation of BNT with Air Force Commander, General Stoykov, the general said he did not want to comment on the recordings of the telephone tappings released by the Prosecutor’s Office. The state prosecution did not clarify exactly what was being investigated and on what occasion in the Air Force.

It is only clear that at this stage all criminal proceedings have been stopped.