Bulgaria's Former PM Kiril Petkov Faces Allegations Amid Immunity Request

Acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov has submitted a request to the 51st National Assembly to lift the parliamentary immunity of MP Kiril Petkov. The request, initiated by the Sofia City Prosecutor's Office (SGP), stems from an ongoing investigation into allegations that Petkov, during his tenure as Prime Minister, exceeded his authority. According to the prosecution, Petkov unlawfully directed officials from the General Directorate of Investigation to initiate pre-trial proceedings against individuals outside their jurisdiction, bypassing the Criminal Procedure Code.

The case involves allegations that Petkov ordered searches and seizures at the homes of three Bulgarian citizens—B.B., Vl.G., and S.A. (Boyko Borissov, Vladislav Goranov, Sevdalina Arnaudova)—without court approval and under conditions that did not meet the legal standard for urgency. It is further alleged that Petkov instructed the detention of these individuals for up to 24 hours, with the intent to harm their reputations. The prosecution argues that these actions caused significant damage to the prestige of the executive branch, constituting an offense under Article 282 of the Criminal Code. Witness testimonies, video evidence, and written documentation have been collected in the investigation, which the supervising prosecutor deemed sufficient to initiate criminal charges.

In response to the request, Petkov announced his intention to voluntarily relinquish his immunity, stating he had no fear of the legal process. He attributed the move to political motivations, accusing prominent political figures of orchestrating the actions against him. Petkov described the request as an attempt to intimidate him and his party, linking it to his government's controversial arrests of Boyko...