Amid growing demands for her resignation, Bulgarian Constitutional Court judge Desislava Atanassova is facing intense scrutiny due to allegations linking her to a private flight with sanctioned politician Delyan Peevski in April 2024. Both ruling party members and opposition lawmakers have urged Atanassova to consider stepping down, suggesting it would be a morally appropriate action while the claims are thoroughly investigated. The controversy gained traction after Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev informed Parliament that Atanassova had supposedly traveled with Peevski from Sofia to Dubai on a private jet.
In response to these allegations, Atanassova has firmly denied any wrongdoing, asserting that she traveled on commercial Turkish Airlines flights between Sofia and Istanbul during the specified period and never visited Dubai. To substantiate her claims, she has provided official travel records and passport data, labeling the accusations as baseless. Despite her defense, the calls for a comprehensive investigation into Peevski’s private flight funding have intensified, especially considering the sanctions he faces from the U.S. and the U.K. over corruption allegations.
Demerdzhiev’s report to Parliament revealed that Peevski had undertaken hundreds of outbound flights over an eight-year span, many of which were on chartered planes. This revelation has amplified the demand for clarity regarding the financial backing of these flights. As part of the ongoing probe, authorities are also examining whether any official travel documentation was tampered with or altered.
The Constitutional Court has acknowledged that it is reviewing the information related to the case. However, it has pointed out that there is no legal framework to dismiss a judge under these particular circumstances. As the investigation continues, the situation remains tense, with significant political and public attention focused on the unfolding developments.
