Bulgarian investigative service chief quits

The chief of the Bulgarian National Investigative Service, Boiko Naidenov, quit his post citing personal reasons, the local media reported, Nov. 5.

“Boiko Naidenov, who heads Bulgaria’s National Investigative Service, resigned on Nov. 4 […], the prosecutor’s office said in a statement,” internet news service, The Sofia Globe, reported.

Naidenov, who was also the deputy prosecutor general, is alleged to have had professional differences with the current Prosecutor General Sotir Tsatsarov.

His potential election for the top job before Tsatsarov took the post, was marred by controversy, however. After Tsatsarov’s predecessor, Boris Velchev, departed Naidenov was made interim prosecutor general.

Law makers debated on whether he was eligible for the post due to the fact of being an investigative magistrate.

“[Supreme Judiciary Council] SJC’s appointment was preceded by a long debate on whether he had the authority to take over as interim chief prosecutor since as an investigative magistrate, he is ranked below prosecutors in Bulgaria’s legal system,” The Sofia Globe wrote.

Naidenov, who had been the favorite to take over from Velchev, was not voted in as the new prosecutor general. Tsatsarov succeeded Velchev at the end of 2012.