Judge Desislava Atanassova of Bulgaria’s Constitutional Court is under increasing scrutiny following claims that she took a private flight with the politically embattled Delyan Peevski in April 2024. Allegations of this nature have prompted both ruling and opposition party members to urge Atanassova to resign, suggesting that stepping down would reflect a moral stance while the alleged incident is thoroughly investigated. The controversy erupted after Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev informed Parliament that Atanassova was purportedly on a private flight with Peevski from Sofia to Dubai.
The call for accountability extends to demands for a comprehensive examination of the funding behind Peevski’s private flights. Peevski, who faces sanctions from the United States and the United Kingdom due to corruption charges, reportedly embarked on hundreds of flights over the past eight years, many of which were chartered. Lawmakers are pushing for transparency regarding the financial underpinnings of these travels, especially given the legal and ethical implications tied to his sanctioned status.
In her defense, Atanassova has firmly rejected the allegations, asserting that during the specified timeframe, she traveled exclusively on commercial flights operated by Turkish Airlines between Sofia and Istanbul, and not to Dubai. To substantiate her claims, she has submitted official travel records and passport data, dismissing the accusations as unfounded and misleading. Her rebuttal aims to clarify the events and protect her judicial position amid the growing political pressure.
While the Constitutional Court is reviewing the information related to the case, it has highlighted that it lacks the legal framework to remove a judge based on such allegations. This limitation leaves Atanassova’s position intact for the time being, despite the ongoing investigation. Concurrently, authorities are delving into whether any official travel documents were tampered with as part of this unfolding inquiry, adding another layer to the complex situation.