Fifteen judges have insisted that Vladimira Yaneva, Chair of the Sofia City Court, and her deputies step down.

In a letter addressed to the Supreme Judicial Council (VSS) and cited by various national outlets, 15 of the 122 judges who work at the court have said doubts about the proper functioning of the system for random distribution of cases, a problem for with the magistrates believe both the VSS and the city court are to bear responsibility.

Tensions have been growing in the judiciary over the past few weeks after allegations that the insolvency case on Corporate Commercial Bank (KTB) had not been randomly distributed, contrary to rules.

Weeks later the French Ambassador to Bulgaria complained in a TV interview about corruption in the judiciary and informed that the theft of a Bulgarian branch of a French company specializing in the production and trade of wine and vodka was being plotted through a decision of a judge at the Sofia City Court, Rumyana Chenalova.

The VSS should also launch an inspection at the SCC to gather more information about the way it is managed, the judges claim.

SCC representatives have said they are ready to undergo an inspection.

Earlier this week Reformist Bloc co-leader Radan Kanev called on the VSS to step down due to irregularities within the system, including flaws in the random distribution of cases.

The council for its part has said it is ready to introduce a new distribution system by the end of the year.