Justice Ministry

Bulgaria has taken its first strides toward the establishment of environmentally conscious prisons, announced the Justice Ministry on Thursday. Exploring the Norwegian model, Bulgarian authorities are considering training both inmates and staff in Belene and Pleven prisons to acquire skills and knowledge in the green economy.

An ambitious plan to introduce a new judicial charter and structural changes to the justice system will be debated by Cabinet later this month after being presented to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis last week by the Justice Ministry.

Its ratification is being expedited, as it is one of the key prerequisites of the EU's Recovery Fund for the disbursement of important tranches.

The Justice Ministry's recent interventions to the Criminal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure are "undoubtedly in the right direction," according to the Greek Prosecutors' Union. 

Thousands of legal cases will soon be handled outside of courtrooms and be resolved by lawyers and some by notaries, according to a Justice Ministry bill aiming to decongest Greece's judicial system.

The ministry views unburdening the courts as essential as a World Bank study ranks Greece 146th worldwide in delays in administering justice.

Online weather forecaster Kerem Ökten faces a criminal complaint from Professor Dr. Mikdat Kadıoğlu for allegedly using a fake diploma, while on the other hand, Ökten has denied misleading claims of being a meteorology graduate, attributing his popularity to being passionate.

In their latest clash with the Digital Governance Ministry, notaries have decided to strike until December 11, saying that the digital platform for property transfers that will be created will not also be under the responsibility of the Justice Ministry. What's more they said that the digital procedure described has not been provided for in legislation.

Social media influencers have recently been in the spotlight over allegations of money laundering and tax evasion, following a series of investigations and arrests of high-profile figures.

The man convicted for the assassination of prominent journalist Hrant Dink has been released as he met the conditions for parole after more than 16 years in prison.

The Greek Ministry of Justice released a draft bill on Thursday for public comment, with a deadline of November 8, to stop the spread of terrorist content online.

The Justice Ministry measure will enshrine the European Parliament and Council's Regulation (EU) 2021/784, which was adopted on April 29, 2021, in Greek law.

As part of the effort to tackle chronic drawbacks, the Justice Ministry is expected in the coming days to present a package of measures to speed up the administration of criminal justice.

While regulations regarding adjournments due to illness and lawyers' unfulfilled commitments will be significantly stricter, the package of changes includes steps to deter frivolous litigation.