The Sofia District Court closed for the time being the defamation case of the former Chief Prosecutor Ivan Geshev against the former Minister of Justice and current Member of Parliament Atanas Slavov because of a statement about Martin Bojanov. The reason is that Slavov has parliamentary immunity.
At today’s meeting, which was closed to journalists, the i.f. had to appear as a witness. chief prosecutor Borislav Sarafov, but he did not come, as he is on a long-planned business trip to Pernik. Judge Vladislava Tsarigradska was also called as a witness, but she also did not appear.
The court is hearing the defamation case of Geshev against Atanas Slavov
Zlatka Stefanova, Slavov’s lawyer, explained to the media that her client asked the court to continue the case, but the activity of the National Assembly does not provide for the possibility of removing parliamentary immunity in cases of a private nature, but only in those of a general nature .
According to her, such a possibility can be regulated by law. Today it is demonstrated that even if the deputies want the case to be considered, they cannot achieve this, at least the judicial practice is like that, the defender added.
Mr. Slavov is not worried about this case, added the lawyer and explained that his words regarding Ivan Geshev are based on the statement of the i.f. chief prosecutor Borislav Sarafov.
Lawyer Stefanova also added that the case received secret materials from the National Security Service (NSS), as well as a response from the First Regional Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Sofia, that they do not have any information submitted by Ivan Geshev’s security that he is being followed .
Ivan Geshev commented to the media that “the court decided that it should stop the proceedings” because Atanas Slavov has immunity.
“There is information, confirmed, that I am being followed by persons related to Martin Bojanov – the Notary. It is marked “classified information”, so the case was closed to journalists. So much for how much I know the Notary and how connected I am to him,” Geshev said. According to him, the NSOs have confirmed the specific information, as well as a report from an MIA official at that time is attached.
Geshev added that he was followed during the period when he was deputy chief prosecutor.
