Supreme Judicial Council Refused to Investigate Donchev-Tsatsarov-Gergov Meeting

The scandal broke out after a recent leak of videos which referred to a controversial meeting between the Chief Prosecutor Sotir Tsatsarov and businessman Sasho Donchev, owner and CEO of the private natural gas company Overgas and publisher of "Sega" daily. The meeting took place in the office of a businessman and politician from the Bulgarian Socialist Party, Georgi Gergov, in the building of Sofia's TZUM department store. During the meeting, Tsatsarov allegedly complained to Donchev about cartoons of himself published in "Sega" and questioned Donchev about whether he was funding Hristo Ivanov’s Yes Bulgaria party, and BiT television. According to Tsatsarov, Donchev asked him to put pressure on prosecutors investigating a regulator in a case related to the supply and sale of natural gas.

Georgi Gergov, resigned from the BSP leadership body at a national council meeting on 22^nd of April, although earlier he had insisted he had no reason to resign. The night before, BSP leader Kornelia Ninova had said that if Gergov did not leave the BSP executive bureau, she would resign as party leader.

The SJC who tabled the proposal insisted that the case be checked, pointing out that the SJC owes an institutional response to the expectations and questions of the public. The reasoning was that the reputation of people at the top of the judiciary must be flawless, and doubts should be cleared.

The request was described by Tsatsarov and the majority in the council as an attempt to destabilize the judicial system. The discussion once again showed the sharp opposition in the room, among which there were references to Hollywood movies and very harsh personal attacks. The Chief Prosecutor told the SJC that he had not violated his duties or the law. He dismissed allegations that Sasho Donchev and Georgi Gergov were subject to a prosecution.

Sotir Tsatsarov, Chief Prosecutor: I have not gone to a secret meeting in the center of Sofia. To me, there is nothing secret about in this meeting. There is nothing to be ashamed of, I would be ashamed if certain investigations have not developed the way somebody obviously did not want to develop, because there are quite large interests behind all this. The meeting was definitely not held during the elections.

Lozan Panov, the chair of the supreme court of Cassation asked when it was held.

Tsatsarov replied that he did not deny this meeting took place and told Panov he was not in a position to question him.