We, the prosecutors from Sofia Regional Prosecutor's Office, find the attempt to undermine the prestige of our colleague magistrate absolutely inadmissible.
On January 10, 2022, Sofia Regional Prosecutor's Office (SRPО) on its own initiative referred the matter in connection with a statement made by journalist Atanas Chobanov about a threat to his life. Prosecutor Ivo Boev was duly elected by the system for random distribution of Sofia Regional Prosecutor’s Office cases as a supervisor of the specific inspection. Based on his powers under Art. 145 of the Judicial System Act, Prosecutor Boev sent letters to the competent institutions requesting information on the case immediately. On the same day, he personally spoke with Atanas Chobanov, explaining to him what measures the Sofia Regional Prosecutor’s Office had taken in the case of the threat to his life and that he should give detailed information. The purpose of the actions of prosecutor Boev is to comply with the law, by checking all available information to assess whether a crime of a general nature has been committed and if so - to initiate pre-trial proceedings. As this is a crime against a person with a high degree of public danger, the prosecutor's actions are guided by the idea of reaching the perpetrator of the crime and hold him criminal liability, as well as providing protection to the journalist.
We remind you that according to the Judiciary System Act, in performing the functions provided for in it (Art.145 JSA), the prosecutor may request documents, information, explanations, expert opinions and other materials, setting a deadline for their receipt. He may personally carry out inspections and instruct the relevant authorities in case of data on crimes or illegal acts and actions to carry out inspections and audits within a period specified by him. All state bodies are obliged to assist the prosecutor.
After his conversation with the supervising prosecutor, the journalist Atanas Chobanov posted on his Facebook account an opinion in which he mentioned the name of prosecutor Ivo Boev and made false suggestions about his election as supervising prosecutor, and then commented and negatively evaluated his work on another file which has nothing to do with the present.
We believe that the evaluation of the work of the prosecutor aims to impose a delusion that undermines the dignity of our colleague and belittles his professional experience.
We oppose the attempt of Atanas Chobanov and the media, citing his publication, to undermine the prestige of prosecutor Ivo Boev. It is incorrect and inadmissible to draw conclusions and evaluations of his work.
These are consecutive tendentious actions for destabilization and undermining the authority of the Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Bulgaria, as well as the work of the Bulgarian prosecutors.
In conclusion, we would like to state that prosecutor Ivo Boev is a worthy magistrate who has proven his professionalism with many resolved cases in the past. He is conscientious in his duties and, despite the attacks against him, will continue to work to protect the civil interest and uphold the rule of law in the country.
The declaration will be sent to the embassies of the EU member states in the Republic of Bulgaria, to the US Embassy, to Reporters Without Borders, to the Association of European Journalists - Bulgaria, to Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) and to the Union of Bulgarian Journalists.