In the evening, the capital’s Gorna Banya district was rocked by the murder of Martin Bozhanov, known in public circles as the Notary. The tragic incident was not just a criminal act, but the culmination of a series of events encompassing corrupt practices, lawsuits and questionable real estate deals in which Bozhanov was involved.
Martin Bozhanov became widely known after the investigation of the Anti-Corruption Fund /ACF/ „Quick Control List: The Story of Vesselin Denkov and Specialized Justice“, published in 2021. The investigation highlighted his ties to prominent figures in the judiciary and his role in informal deals and trials.
Bozhanov is known for his participation in the attempts to free Vesselin Denkov, owner of iconic Sofia restaurants and accused of participating in an organized crime group. Through his contacts, Bozhanov connected Ivayla Bakalova, Denkov’s partner, with lawyer Emil Piskov, and sums of at least 100,000 euros were discussed for Denkov’s release.
In addition to his actions in defense of Denkov, Bozhanov is associated with questionable real estate deals and a scandalously stolen case from the Supreme Court of Cassation in 2004. Despite the accusations and doubts, Bozhanov remained steadfast, claiming that he was unconvicted and had no pending proceedings.
Bozhanov’s murder not only raised questions about the motives and perpetrators, but also highlighted the pressure on law enforcement to look deeper into corrupt practices in the judiciary. The comments of Andrey Yankulov, a former prosecutor and senior legal expert at the ACF, emphasized the urgency of the situation and the need for a serious investigation.
Despite the calls for action, it is not yet clear whether any steps have been taken by the Prosecutor’s Office or other government bodies regarding the revelations in the ACF investigation. Bozhanov’s murder is unlikely to remain just news, as it carries with it the weight of unresolved questions and the potential to expose deep-seated problems in the system.
This tragedy may turn out to be a turning point in the fight against corruption and the fight for a more transparent judiciary in Bulgaria, stimulating the state authorities to take decisive action.
