The legislative changes to dissolve the Specialized Court and the Specialized Prosecutor's Office in Bulgaria are not aimed at judicial reform, but at closing structures that have proven their effectiveness in the fight against organized crime, Valentina Madjarova, administrative head of the Specialized Prosecutor's Office, said in a videoconference with representatives of the European Commission, responsible for the preparation of the report on the rule of law in the EU.

Madjarova pointed out that the closure of the Specialized Court and Prosecutor's Office would threaten the rule of law in Bulgaria.

The magistrate informed the experts that a number of ministers, a deputy minister, the chairman of a state agency, police, and customs officials and mayors have been brought to court for corruption under investigations by the Specialized Prosecutor's Office. Last year, 292 pre-trial proceedings were opened for corruption offences, Madjarova pointed out.

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