Veselin Pengezov

The Sofia City Court on Monday is expected to launch the trial against former Sofia Appellate Court chair Veselin Pengezov and other ex-officials over their alleged involvement in a EU funds fraud.

Bulgaria's Supreme Judicial Council (VSS) has failed in its third attempt to elect a Chair of the Sofia Appellate Court.

The only candidate for the post, Neli Kutskova, Judge at the Sofia Appellate Court, was backed by 9 VSS members, with four votes against and 6 abstentions, according to the BGNES news agency.

Bulgaria's Supreme Judicial Council (VSS) will make a third attempt to elect a Chair of the Sofia Appellate Court, the third biggest court in the country.

The only candidate is Neli Kutskova, Judge at the Sofia Appellate Court.

The prosecuting authority has pressed charges against 8 people for irregularities in a project implemented under the operational program Administrative Capacity.

The former Bulgarian Chief Mufti Nedim Gendzhev and a group of imams cursed Stefan Grozdev, one of the two candidates for the position of head of the Sofia Appellate Court, reports the bTV national channel.

The procedure for the election of a Chair of the Sofia Appellate Court collapsed after the sole candidate, Veselin Pengezov, failed to summon enough votes.

The Supreme Judicial Council (VSS) did not back the nomination of Pengezov for a second term in office.

Pengezov is being investigated for abuse of EU funds under the "Administrative Capacity" operational program.

Bulgaria's Supreme Judicial Council (VSS) has postponed the election of a Chair of the Sofia Appellate Court (VAS) for June 26.

The reason for the postponement is a sick note submitted by Veselin Pengezov, the sole candidate for the post, according to the BGNES news agency.

Bulgaria's Supreme Judicial Council has voted to temporarily remove from office the head of the Sofia Appellate Court, Veselin Pengezov.

The SJC ruled the same for Petko Petkov, head of the Military Appellate Court. Of the 20 members, 16 voted in favor of removing them from office, a move initiated by the Chief Prosecutor Sotir Tsatsarov.

Prosecuting Authority's charges against Bulgaria PM's cabinet chief Maria Divizieva have "nothing to do with the government's activity", Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski said.

Mariya Divizieva, who heads Bulgarian PM Oresharski's political cabinet, is to be indicted over an EU funds abuse probe that has involved high-profile magistrates.