“The Resignation of Chief Prosecutor Ivan Geshev Amidst Controversy”

• The Attorney General was warned that if he didn’t resign, someone would hit enter with some stuff
• Borislav Sarafov should consider whether to resign, or whether I will submit a request for his removal, Geshev said

Chief Prosecutor Ivan Geshev announced his resignation during a statement to the media.

“As the chief prosecutor, I worked only for Bulgaria and the security of citizens. For me, words like homeland, fatherland, a man’s word, honor, loyalty to friends, no matter how old-fashioned, mean something. I may have made mistakes. I may have said something unmeasured. But everything was in the interest of the people,” he said in his first statement after being asked to resign.

Six members of the Prosecutor’s College proposed the early release of Ivan Geshev as chief prosecutor. Personnel suggest that the release is due to a serious breach of official duties. According to them, Geshev has undermined the prestige of the judiciary by ordering the mystical Israeli counter-terrorist to join the investigation of the attack.

The proposal was signed by Georgi Kuzmanov, Ognyan Damyanov (prosecutor’s collegium), Yordan Stoev, Kalina Chapkanova, Gergana Mutafova and Svetlana Boshnakova (quota of the National Assembly).

“This is my resignation,” Geshev said immediately afterwards, showing a sheet of paper and holding it up. “And this is the pen,” he continued. And demonstratively tore the paper with his resignation into small pieces.

“Yesterday I was invited to resign. My family was mentioned. That if I don’t resign, someone will hit enter with some stuff. And so I better exercise prudence, because life goes on. There were also personal deviations where the wind blows wind that I’m alone on the escalator. I’m not afraid. As cliché as it sounds. Judge Falcone said: The coward dies every day, the brave only once. A man who owes me an apology says: “Whom History remembers only the brave. “

“I do what I have to do, whatever happens,” he added.

“For the first time there were cases about terrorism. About Russian malign influence. And some former prime ministers were giving puppies to Putin. Cases against oligarchs, some of whom are hiding in Serbia, Dubai and other places. The prosecutor’s office was ruthlessly attacked by the political mafia, oligarchs, criminals and all who want to keep stealing. I don’t want that.”

Geshev said that politics should come out of the judiciary.

“I hope that today is the beginning of the end of this oligarchic model. The person Borislav Sarafov, who says that politics should come out of the prosecutor’s office – I agree. Until now, he tried to lead it carefully. Now he is doing it ugly and brutally.”

Ivan Geshev said that he received an offer from Boyko Borisov to become ambassador to Israel or Turkey months ago, but he did not take it seriously.

“Then in Ukraine I said that if Putin comes to Bulgaria, we will hand him over to the International Criminal Court. The assassination attempt followed. I think it was an attempt to kill me. Whether this is so or not, the experts will show. I think the truth will come out. I underestimated what happened in the days after the attack. Outrageous media attack on me and the prosecution. It was expected. The so-called democratic community has been doing it for years

“While I was gone, the chief prosecutor was the person Borislav Sarafov. I was advised to give an interview given the speculations and the vile media campaign. I did it and explained everything I know as a victim. I did it on May 1 as a witness. It turned out that this just the beginning.”

Then Geshev told everything chronologically:

“On Monday, a friend of mine from the province called me. He is close to GERB. He said that the person Boyko Borisov called him and asked where my family was. He advised me to stop talking because I am third news. And I underestimated that. After that I saw the statement of the person Borislav Sarafov in BTA. I called him. He said he was ashamed, but there was nothing he could do. He apologized.”

“I started to calculate what was happening. On Tuesday he called me. He said he was going to an interview at the BNR. It was strange to me. He was told to go there to fix things. He gave an interview, everyone can hear it. I thought , that he had changed his mind. I thought that someone should burn, and that someone is Yasen Todorov. It was only for the media.”

“On Wednesday, I found out that he submitted a proposal to the Supreme Court of Justice to remove Yasen Todorov because he made statements in the media without his consent. I am not aware that Sarafov asked for permission for his statements. Then he sent me a photo from the NSlS chat, where Todorov wrote that the mice leave the ship. I said to myself: “Here it is personal, there is nothing I can do.”

“On Thursday Mrs. Gabriel said that they would ask for my resignation if there is a government. This violates the principle of separation of powers. I read an interesting post about how this corresponds to the requirements for the independence of European commissioners. I called a politician whom I considered a friend She is a woman. She said: “Understand me!” It became clear to me that a narrow circle of people knew this – the person Boyko Borisov was one of them.”

He added that the DPS always had a principled position over the years. Ethically, their position now bordered on treason.

“On Friday, we spoke with Mr. Liceto. On Saturday, I also spoke with others – on the phone and in my house. Members of the SJC, politicians and magistrates. Sarafov said: “You know what’s going on, I can’t do anything”. I called to a member of the SJC I said: “What are these ridiculous grounds, you know there is nothing like that”. He replied that it was only for me to resign. And he was talking about my family.”

After that, I received a text message from the administrative head of the Appellate Prosecutor’s Office-Sofia: “I am sorry for what I did today.” Sarafov made him publish an opinion against me. No district attorney was notified. I got it. He is my friend and will continue to be my friend. It will weigh on the conscience of the people who did it. If they have a conscience.

I then called all the other appellate prosecutors. They said they were behind me.

Prosecutors from other appellate districts said they would not participate.
I cut short my business trip. Then I got the message that if I didn’t resign by 10 o’clock someone would push the button.

They checked my family and friends, they accused me with denunciations and compromising documents. It shows I’m a nuisance and should be removed, hell I don’t mind stealing. I was wondering if it was worth it. Last night I firmly decided that it was worth staying for the sake of our children. Because this oligarchic model must end. Because I am Bulgarian, a prosecutor, a magistrate, a man. Some others clearly aren’t. What I think about those who signed the demand for my resignation were at the impromptu protest in front of the Courthouse. That all changed Thursday night. Some of them may be motivated. Everyone has weaknesses. Others are scared. Still others are misled. But I hope that there are people with honor in the SJC. Some of them are my friends. All this mirrors the country we live in – the props, the hybrid attacks, the claims that I am omnipotent. That I have protected GERD and DPS. By the way, it is clear what political garbage is in the National Assembly, judging by the statements of some politicians. Few of them, mostly women, showed honor and dignity.

It is clear that after everyone united without appeal, it means that I and the prosecutor’s office are doing our work in the interest of the people and the law. I am proud of the prosecutor’s office and the investigators. They showed that we are the only stable institution. I received hundreds of support calls. The majority of them were from women.

For me, as the chief prosecutor, it is important to work for the Bulgarian citizens. I will finish my term no matter what.

I received a message from a fellow prosecutor who wrote to me: “Hello, Ivan! I don’t know if you know, but Sarafov said that I have to close the Barcelona case by Friday.” I replied that I was not familiar. The case is under special supervision. I notified the supervising prosecutor at the VKP. He said he could not finish the case until the end of September.

I will finish my term. For me, there is only one meaning – the security of Bulgarian citizens. It is time to sweep away the political garbage.

I have the support of colleagues and friends. The prosecution is unified. There are always a few mice, but that’s normal. There is pressure on the prosecution. They crawled out late. I love Bulgaria. I am proud to be Bulgarian. “God be with us, and long live Mother Bulgaria”

I informed the person Borislav Sarafov that he should consider whether to resign if he has morals. If he does not, I will file a request for his removal from the SJC.