Prosecutor General: Ministry of Interior is in a tragic state

The Ministry of Interior is in a tragic state and the situation needs to change, Bulgaria’s Prosecutor General, Ivan Geshev, said after a meeting with representatives of GERB party on October 26. He reiterated that there is a need for interaction between the Ministry of Interior, Prosecutor's Office and the court.

Chief Prosecutor Ivan Geshev presented three groups of measures to tackle crime

"The Ministry of Interior, unfortunately, is in a tragic state, perhaps it has not been in such a state since the early 1990s. I see that efforts are being made by Minister Demerdzhiev to do something about it. I suspect it will take years to restore the situation to the levels of two years ago, and it was not ideal then. However, it is a tragedy at the moment, it is loose, it is creamy, I apologise for using such expressions. There is no way the Ministry of the Interior can stop investigating crimes, does not talk to the Prosecutor’s office and the prosecutor not raise indictments. Otherwise, how can there be justice," Geshev told journalists.

The Prosecutor General also called for a meeting with the other parties.

"You may not like Geshev, you may not like Demerdzhiev, but we are not a kindergarten, we are in these positions. I also do not like some political parties, but I call them to dialogue so that we can work together in the interest of the Bulgarian people," Geshev said. He added that he hoped "Mr. Hristo Ivanov, Democratic Bulgaria, “We Continue the Change” , would participate in an expert conversation for the sake of the Bulgarian people, because there is going to be, although I hope not, a national catastrophe in the area of fighting crime."

In Geshev's words, not coming to talk to the Bulgarian Prosecutor's office means either fear or lack of real legal arguments, or both at the same time. "I am not worried about talking to you media, why are they worried", the Prosecutor General asked.

He expressed doubts about the judicial reforms being prepared by lawmakers.

"Have you heard what judicial reform means, do you know what it means. I know for myself what legal reform means and what the hell actually needs to change, under the cliché judicial reform, does anyone know what that means, I suspect that those who do it have no idea for the simple reason that they are either not lawyers or they only have a law degree diploma.

GERB has committed to an expert discussion on legislation. The aim will be both to speed up court procedures and to deliver greater justice for the people. It will also be imperative to refresh some of the laws that are already obsolete and unenforceable.

The chief prosecutor said that he sees a retreat in the fight against organized crime, an increase in road accidents and household crime.