Amid mounting pressure, Bulgarian Constitutional Court judge Desislava Atanassova faces calls to resign following allegations linking her to a private flight with sanctioned politician Delyan Peevski. The controversy erupted after Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev informed Parliament about Atanassova’s alleged travel with Peevski from Sofia to Dubai in April 2024. Both members of the ruling party and opposition lawmakers argue that her resignation would be a fitting moral response while the incident undergoes investigation.
The situation has prompted lawmakers to demand a comprehensive probe into the funding of Peevski’s private flights, as he is under U.S. and U.K. sanctions for alleged corruption. Demerdzhiev revealed that Peevski has undertaken hundreds of outbound flights over eight years, frequently using chartered planes. Despite the allegations, Atanassova has denied any wrongdoing, asserting that she traveled solely on commercial Turkish Airlines flights between Sofia and Istanbul during the period in question, with no trips to Dubai.
Atanassova has presented official travel records and passport data to substantiate her claims, labeling the accusations as false. The Constitutional Court has acknowledged the receipt of this information and is currently reviewing the situation. However, the court has noted that it lacks a legal framework to remove a judge under such circumstances, adding complexity to the unfolding situation.
Authorities are now investigating whether any official travel records might have been tampered with as part of the ongoing inquiry. As the probe continues, the political landscape remains tense, with calls for transparency and accountability echoing through Bulgarian political circles. The outcome of this investigation could have significant implications for Atanassova’s career and the broader political environment.