Bulgarian judicial integrity questioned amid lobbying and evidence claims

Bulgarian businessman Vasil Bozhkov has accused the Specialized Prosecutor's Office of fabricating evidence in his legal cases, claiming that original documents are missing and new ones have been created. Bozhkov, a prominent figure in the gambling industry, also commented on proposed changes to the Gambling Act, warning that restrictions on gambling advertising could negatively impact sports funding.

Separately, Professor Veselin Vuchkov, a nominee for the prosecutor's college of the Supreme Judicial Council (VSS), addressed potential lobbying attempts regarding the election of new council members. Vuchkov called for independent investigations into allegations of improper influence within the judicial and prosecutorial sectors to ensure the integrity of the upcoming elections and to address systemic issues such as unpredictable career paths for magistrates.