Bulgarian Constitutional Court judge Desislava Atanassova is facing increasing pressure following allegations of her involvement in a private flight with Delyan Peevski, a politician under sanctions, which reportedly occurred in April 2024. Both ruling party members and opposition lawmakers have urged Atanassova to resign, suggesting that her resignation would demonstrate moral responsibility while investigations into the alleged trip continue. This situation intensified after Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev informed Parliament that Atanassova had accompanied Peevski on a private journey from Sofia to Dubai.
The call for a thorough inquiry into the funding of Peevski’s private flights has gained traction, especially considering his subjectivity to U.S. and U.K. sanctions due to corruption allegations. Demerdzhiev provided Parliament with details indicating that Peevski had undertaken hundreds of outbound flights over eight years, frequently utilizing chartered aircraft. This revelation has added to the urgency of the investigation, drawing significant public and political attention.
In response to these claims, Atanassova has firmly denied any wrongdoing. She stated that during the period in question, her travels were limited to commercial Turkish Airlines flights between Sofia and Istanbul, and she never went to Dubai. To back her assertion, Atanassova has presented official travel documents and passport data, labeling the accusations as baseless and false.
As the Constitutional Court reviews the situation, it has acknowledged the lack of a legal framework to dismiss a judge under such circumstances. Meanwhile, authorities are delving into whether any official travel records might have been tampered with as part of their broader investigation. The unfolding events have put Atanassova under intense scrutiny, with her future on the bench potentially hinging on the outcomes of these inquiries.