Prosecutor General Requests Parliament to Lift MP Kiril Petkov’s Immunity Over Borissov Arrest

Bulgaria’s acting Prosecutor General has called on Parliament to remove the immunity of MP and Continue the Change co-leader Kiril Petkov, according to an announcement by the prosecution service on Monday. The request follows an investigation by the Sofia City Prosecution Office into Petkov's involvement in the controversial March 2022 arrest of GERB leader and former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, CE Report quotes BTA

Petkov responded swiftly in a Facebook post, declaring his willingness to relinquish his immunity immediately. He accused acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov of political intimidation, stating, "You cannot scare and break us! Pathetic thugs!"

Borissov’s arrest occurred during a high-profile law enforcement operation linked to 120 cases under investigation by the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) in Bulgaria. His former finance minister, Vladislav Goranov, and GERB media adviser Sevdalina Arnaudova were also detained during the operation.

The Sofia City Prosecution Office alleges that, as Prime Minister, Petkov violated the law by ordering police officials to initiate pre-trial proceedings without proper jurisdiction or adherence to the Criminal Procedure Code. The orders reportedly included conducting unauthorized searches, interrogations, and arrests without court warrants, even during nighttime hours.

Prosecutors argue that Petkov’s actions were intended to harm Borissov and others involved, tarnishing their reputations and undermining the executive branch's credibility. Materials related to the case, including witness interviews, have been submitted to Parliament for review.