Bulgaria's Justice Ministry

Bulgaria has revoked the Bulgarian citizenship of a Russian millionaire amid EU criticism of a scheme known as the "golden passport'', reported Radio Free Europe. 

Sergei Adonyev's citizenship was withdrawn over a 20-year-old fraud conviction in the United States, Bulgaria's Justice Ministry said on January 23.

Bulgaria's Justice Ministry has made public draft legislative amendments that could effectively limit the right of Bulgarians living abroad to vote, by introducing a domicile requirement for voting in parliamentary and presidential elections.

(continued from Divided, Depleted and Dispirited - The Syrians of Bulgaria)

The number of Syrians in Bulgaria is unknown, even to state institutions, which provided BIRN with often contradictory figures following a series of Freedom of Information requests.

Bulgaria's Justice Ministry plans to lay off around 700 officials of the Chief Directorate for the Execution of Sentences and judicial security staff and implement a restructuring of the Registry Agency, according to Deputy Justice Minister Petko Petkov.

Ventsislav Spiridonov, Director of Bulgaria's Registry Agency has been removed from office through an ordinance of the Justice Ministry coordinated with Prime Minister Boyko Borisov.

Spiridonov was appointed Director of Bulgaria's Registry Agency in the summer of 2013 during the term in office of Justice Minister Zinaida Zlatanova.

Bulgaria's Justice Minister Hristo Ivanov and Thorbjørn Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe (CoE), have discussed Bulgaria's judicial reform strategy and the independence of the judiciary in the country.

Ivanov is on a two-day working visit to Strasbourg on March 16-17.

Bulgaria's Justice Ministry published on Tuesday a bill amending and supplementing the Criminal Code, which is focused on providing adequate protection against terrorism.

The amendments address gaps in the Criminal Code, especially in view of the potential danger of terrorist activities, which are one of the most serious threats to international peace and security.

Bulgaria's Justice Ministry will establish a special directorate which will provide better coordination between the minister and the Supreme Judicial Council (VSS) and the bodies of the judiciary.

The reorganisation of the VSS was one of the main recommendations, featured in the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) report, issued by the European Commission (EC) last week.