Bulgarian Supreme Magistrates Overturn Controversial Court Head Appointment

The brand new Chair of Sofia's City Court, Vladimira Yaneva, has been already involved in several scandals. Photo by BGNES

Bulgaria's Supreme Administrative Court (VAS) overturned the Supreme Judicial Council's (VSS) controversial appointment of Vladmira Yaneva as Chair of the Sofia City Court.

The claim was filed by the other candidate for the post, Velichka Tsanova. The rule can be appealed within a 14-day deadline.

The Bulgarian Dnevnik daily reports Thursday the rule is unprecedented since it was signed by only two of the three judges in the panel. The third one had refused to put his signature and had withdrawn from the case.

VAS had to made a decision by October 19 (it was filed on June 14 and concluded on September 30. The recommended deadline is to issue a decision within 30 days.

The scandal broke at the end of May, when Vladimira Yaneva, who has four years of experience, two of them on maternity leave, won the appointment at second round against Velichka Tsanova, a judge with extensive experience, Deputy Chair and temporarily in charge of the same court.

Yaneva, who has admitted to be close family friend of Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, stirred a storm of controversy with the admission and with allegedly committing conflict of interest.

The appointment sent shockwaves through the judicial system in Bulgaria, triggering several resignations with accusations the executive power is interfering and chocking the Courts.

The VSS vote was labeled by the Head of the Supreme Court of Cassations, Lazar Gruev, as a "split personality disorder" or a set scenario since at second round Yaneva received support by magistrates, who initially voted for Tsanova.

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