Former EWRC head wins compensation for unlawful prosecution

The Sofia City Court has ordered the Bulgarian prosecution to pay Svetla Todorova, the former head of the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC), over 15,000 euros in compensation for an unlawful prosecution.

Todorova was targeted in 2017 for alleged official misconduct regarding decisions made between December 2014 and April 2015 concerning gas distribution prices for 26 companies. While her former colleague Angel Semerdzhiev faced trial, the proceedings against Todorova were terminated in 2021 due to a lack of evidence of a crime.

Todorova filed a lawsuit for 100,000 BGN, claiming the widely publicized case caused her humiliation, damaged her professional reputation, strained relationships with colleagues, and led to severe health issues. The court ruled that her previously clean judicial record warranted significant compensation, awarding her 30,000 BGN (approximately 15,338.76 euros). The decision is subject to appeal.