Bulgarian EU Prosecutor Teodora Georgieva Faces Dismissal Over Serious Misconduct

Sofia, Bulgaria – The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) has initiated proceedings that could lead to the dismissal of Teodora Georgieva, the European Prosecutor for Bulgaria, following findings of serious misconduct. The case has unfolded over the past year, marked by investigations, suspensions, and a lack of transparency regarding the specific allegations.

Disciplinary Proceedings and Findings

In September 2025, the College of the EPPO launched disciplinary proceedings against Georgieva. A disciplinary council, comprised of high-ranking current or former representatives of European institutions, subsequently found her guilty of serious misconduct in February 2026. According to European Chief Prosecutor Laura Kovesi, the misconduct involved three separate issues, though details remain limited due to ongoing procedures.

“It was an internal procedure,” Kovesi stated during a hearing before the European Parliament’s Committees on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, and on Budgetary Control on March 18, 2026. “After that, we set up a panel, who made supplementary checks on the facts that we have identified, and in the end the conclusion was that there were three misconducts.”

Kovesi declined to elaborate on the specifics, explaining that two of the misconducts relate to operational information concerning ongoing investigations. The EPPO College has requested the European Parliament, the EU Council, and the European Commission to consider the procedure for dismissing Georgieva, as outlined in the regulations.

Allegations and Previous Suspensions

The investigation into Georgieva’s conduct began several months prior, reportedly triggered by video recordings allegedly showing a meeting with Petyo Petrov – known as “Evroto” – a wanted former investigator. This meeting reportedly took place at the “Eight Dwarfs” restaurant during the selection process for the Bulgarian candidate for European Prosecutor. Bulgarian National Radio reported on these initial allegations.

Georgieva was temporarily suspended in March 2025 as part of an administrative investigation into potential misconduct, marking an unprecedented case for the EPPO. Novinite detailed this initial suspension.

Prior to the EPPO investigation, Georgieva had reported feeling threatened by influential figures, including Delyan Peevski, alleging attempts to interfere with her work on the Chiren gas storage case. She also claimed to have experienced a fire at her family home, which she suspected was arson, and received additional protection from the EPPO in response.

EPPO’s Broader Work and Independence

During the same hearing, Kovesi emphasized the EPPO’s ongoing efforts to combat fraud against the European budget, stating that the office is investigating suspected fraud totaling over 45 billion euros. She affirmed her commitment to ensuring the law is applied equally to all individuals.

Kovesi also clarified that the EPPO was not involved in the 2022 detention of former Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, as the office had not initiated an investigation at that time.

Next Steps and Potential Dismissal

Under the regulations governing the EPPO, only the Court of Justice of the European Union can dismiss a European prosecutor for serious misconduct. This requires a request from either the European Parliament, the Council, or the Commission. Georgieva remains suspended from her position with her remuneration frozen whereas these institutions consider their options.

Georgieva herself has expressed frustration with the lack of transparency surrounding the allegations, stating, “I don’t know. You media asked many times what happened and you didn’t obtain an answer. I also want to get an answer.”