The Appeals Court has refused to confirm the sacking of a deputy chief of Bulgaria's Agriculture Fund, opening the way to him stepping back in office.
It confirms the May 11 ruling of a lower court, which did not approve prosecutors' demands for removing Krassimir Nedelchev from a deputy chair in the State Agriculture Fund over charges of taking hefty bribes, about EUR 128,000.
The Appeals Court has found no specific evidence to support the charges of corruption and money laundering. Its ruling is final.
Putting the target on Krassimir Nedelchev was just a week ahead of the key EC monitoring report on Bulgaria's progress to accession. The hasty sacking has been seen by many as seeking for a high-position scapegoat to demonstrate Sofia's will to tackle corruption.
In response, Agriculture Minister Nihat Kabil said he would not let his former deputy to come back to work, despite the court ruling.
On Friday Nedelchev told journalists he is considering the option to sue his employers - the Agriculture Ministry - for his unlawful and scandalous removal from office.