Judge Tsoni Tsonev, Head of the Ethics Commission of Bulgaria's Supreme Judicial Council (VSS) informed Thursday that the case “Panayot Genkov” has not been closed yet.

VSS have called Angel Hristov, one of the two notorious Galevi Brothers, to appear before them on Monday. If Hristov does not comply, the magistrates will request a police escort to bring him.

The latest judicial system scandal was about to unfold amidst Tuesday media report that the magistrate from the Supreme Administrative Court, Panayot Genkov, and Hristov have been spotted sharing a table in a restaurant in Sofia.

Tsonev said Wednesday the probe proved the reports wrong – waiters' accounts and restaurant receipts showed that the two were indeed in the same restaurant, but never sat on the same table. VSS had also requested information if tax evasion cases against Hristov were filed with the Supreme Administrative Court where Genkov is the head of the Unit dealing with appeals of penalties imposed by the National Revenue and Customs Agencies. The report showed that no such cases exist thus VSS was unable to establish any connection between the two.

Meanwhile, Genkov announced he is going to file a defamation suit, saying the scandal was a personal attack on him. He firmly denies knowing Hristov.

Angel Hristov and Plamen Galev aka The Galevi Brothers are tried for organized crime and racketeering in the western town of Dupnitsa.

VSS further announced Thursday that they have discharged Nikolay Gospodinov as a Deputy Chair of the Pleven District Court over proof the latter had 56 phone conversations with the so-called Krasio the Black during the time he applied for the post of Chair of the Pleven Court.

Krasimir Georgiev aka Krasio the Black is facing charges of “trading” magistrate positions for huge amounts of cash. 11 high-ranking magistrates have been exposed so far for their ties with Krasio the Black. Gospodinov becomes the 3rd one to dismissed by the VSS Anti-corruption Committee. 2 VSS members also resigned in the aftermath of the scandal.

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