“I can't guess why Sarafov resigned three days after the elections - it will be speculation. But it seems to me from the outside that the reason is clear what would have happened after that. Within a day or two, politicians should change the law in the judiciary, clarify that the 6-month term applies to the existing situation and his stay as an assistant prosecutor was pointless. A belated but correct decision on Sarafov's part.“ This was stated by former chief prosecutor Ivan Geshev for bTV a few days after the assistant prosecutor's resignation. Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov and the inauguration of his deputy Vanya Stefanova.
He added that he did not undertake to comment on the legal status of Borislav Sarafov:
„I cannot say whether he was there legally or not – there are different legal interpretations, but it is a fact that Sarafov could not perform the functions of the figure he performs – prosecutor general for a long time. His stay was pointless.“
Geshev modestly commented on his own removal, but stated unequivocally that political pressure from the “Assembly“ and political dependencies in the SJC led to his removal and the collapse of independence in the judiciary.
„I defended the independence of the judiciary. Absolutely everyone was against me – all political forces.“
„PP-DB adopted and proposed a law according to which I would be removed with 13 votes, and not with a qualified majority of the SJC – there was a law against a person.“
According to him, the pressure was related to specific investigations, some of which – with GERB leader Boyko Borisov.
„My problems started suddenly – they wanted to break the law, to end the cases, I did not agree – we are talking about cases related to Boyko Borisov.“
„All political parties did it, including those who talk about reform – They set up a committee in the National Assembly, kept pushing until I was removed, and then they returned the case to the prosecutor's office and it was dropped.“
The former prosecutor general also spoke about the betrayal of the judiciary in the hands of the legislature.
„The institution was handed over to the politicians by everyone - not only Borislav Sarafov, but also the Supreme Judicial Council, and the leaders of the judiciary knelt down to the politicians. This is the situation.“
Geshev also commented on the attempt against him in 2023:
„I was not scared at first, later a friend of mine - an Israeli general and specialist in topics in Israel, told me that it was a professional execution and was a so-called targeted explosion, not made by Bulgarians. According to him, it could have been intimidation or an assassination attempt.“
„My speculation is that one of the politicians made something like an attempt at intimidation.“
Regarding the new I.F. Chief Prosecutor he stated:
„I know Vanya Stefanova – I have a neutral opinion about her, but she will continue to be bent.“
And about Petyo Petrov he added:
„Regarding Pepi the Euro – I have communicated professionally. I have known him since 96/97, as have all the others. There is mythology around him – there are dozens and hundreds of people like him – everywhere where there is money. It is a symptom.“
Ivan Geshev said that he will still monitor whether the new political player “Progressive Bulgaria“ will really fulfill its requests and guarantee some independence in the judicial system. According to him, the participants in “The Assembly“ have taken their piece of the pie.