UN says Bulgaria should include prosecution service in the reform of its judiciary

The United Nations independent expert on the independence of judges and lawyers on Monday urged Bulgaria to include its prosecution service in the reform of its judiciary to streamline the administration of justice in the European country. 

“Joint governance of the courts and the prosecution service appears to hamper a well-functioning system of accountability, and therefore limits effective prosecution of those involved in organized crime and corruption,” said Gabriela Knaul, the UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, at the end of her six-day mission to Bulgaria.

She said judges, court assessors, prosecutors and investigating magistrates are essential to the success of the current legal reform process to improve Bulgaria’s capacity to combat corruption and organized crime, and to ensure efficiency, independence and accountability of the judiciary.