Galina Zaharova elected as the new head of Bulgaria’s Supreme Court of Cassation

With 20 votes “in favour”, the Supreme Judicial Council on January 14 elected Galina Zaharova as chair of the Supreme Cassation Code. The minimum requirement is 17 votes “in favour”.

Galina Zaharova has many years of experience as a judge, with exceptionally good reputation and trust among her colleagues. She held the position of Deputy Chair of the Supreme Court of Cassation and Head of the Criminal Chamber.

Zaharova received the support of the Plenum of the court. Her candidacy was nominated by the General Assembly of Judges of the Supreme Court of Cassation.

"I think that Judge Zaharova has sufficient skills and qualities and will be a worthy follower of the policy I pursued in the Supreme Court. The deficit of dignity in the Supreme Judicial Council is undoubtedly a problem. I believe that today this deficit will not manifest itself and the SJC will have at least instinct for self-preservation ", said the current chairman Lozan Panov.

Panov's term expires in February.

"Judicial self-governance is one of the supreme values ​​in terms of having an independent justice system and court. Having been so strongly supported by colleagues from the Supreme Court of Cassation, this is a very positive sign for me and once again shows how important it is to support judicial self-governance and to guarantee it, " said Justice Minister Nadezhda Yordanova.

Chief Prosecutor, Ivan Geshev, also backed Zaharova's candidacy, stressing that she has an impeccable reputation. As she was nominated by the plenum of the Supreme Court of Cassation, the judge's self-governance cannot be questioned, Geshev believes. He called on the judges to support her.

"With Zaharova, as the head of the Supreme Court of Cassation, they can stop the attempts for political influence on the judicial system. All colleagues say that she is an impeccable professional and a good person," the chief prosecutor added.