SOFIA -- Bulgaria's interim government has accused Prosecutor-General Ivan Geshev, who was the target of mass protests last year, of wrongdoing as it seeks to oust the controversial official.
In an interview with BNR Radio on July 18, Interim Interior Minister Boyko Rashkov accused Geshev of illegally publishing transcripts of politicians’ phone conversations that were wiretapped.
Rashkov told BNR Radio that Geshev’s act “is considered a crime under the Criminal Code and stipulates years of imprisonment."
Geshev in 2020 published two transcripts of wiretapped calls, including one involving President Rumen Radev.
Rashkov’s comments to the radio station come as the interim government digs deep into the work of the previous GERB governments led by former Prime Minister Boyko Borisov for most of the past 12 years.
The interim government was appointed by Radev, an opponent of Borisov, in May following the inconclusive April parliamentary elections.
New elections held July 11 have yet to produce a government, meaning the interim government could continue its work for weeks if not months.
The interim government has already accused Borisov’s GERB government of mismanaging billions of dollars in procurement and quickly moved to replace many officials.
It is now seeking to oust Geshev, who is believed to be close to the former powerful prime minister.
In the first step in that process, Rashkov on July 16 published his report of Geshev's alleged violations and submitted it to the Justice Ministry.
Interim Prime Minister Stefan Yanev and Radev on July 17 backed Rashkov's move.
Now it is up to the Supreme Judicial Council to decide whether to remove Geshev. It will next meet on July 21 though it is unclear if a vote will be taken that day.
Opposition parties have accused Geshev of abusing his power of office and targeting people for political reasons.
Thousands of people took to the streets in Sofia, the Bulgarian capital, last year to demand Geshev and Borisov’s government resign.