The UN General Assembly elected, with overwhelming support, the Bulgarian candidate for judge - Mira Raycheva-Shekerdzieva from the Supreme Administrative Court - as a part-time judge at the UN Dispute Tribunal, the press center of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) announced. The decision, which was made by a large majority, underlines Bulgaria's growing role on the international stage.
Ms. Raycheva-Shekerdzieva's candidacy received the support of 119 UN member states. The result is a testament to the strong support she received and to the recognition of her professional skills. The candidate from Zambia also achieved the same high result, which further emphasizes the competitive nature of the elections.
Ten candidates from different countries, representing all regional groups in the UN, competed for the five vacant seats in the Tribunal. The candidates went through an intensive selection process, nominated by the UN Council of Internal Justice, after a multi-stage procedure that began with an impressive 391 initial applications. The UN Dispute Tribunal, whose judges are elected, represents the first instance of the two-instance UN system for the consideration of administrative disputes, the MFA points out. This tribunal plays a key role in resolving administrative disputes within the organization.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs notes that "the high result reflects both the professional qualities of the Bulgarian candidate and the active diplomatic campaign conducted by the MFA in the UN - New York and through the accredited diplomatic missions in Sofia". The ministry teams worked hard for three months to support the candidacy. This intensive work ended with the highest result among all candidates, in conditions of strong international competition. This is indicative of Bulgaria's commitment to international law and the resolution of disputes.
"This recognition is a clear sign of the international authority and trust that our country enjoys in the UN system," the MFA adds. The result shows the high assessment of the international community for Bulgaria's efforts.
Mira Raycheva-Shekerdzieva will perform her functions as a part-time judge at the UN Tribunal for the period 2026-2033. Her mandate will begin in the future, marking an important step for Bulgaria in the field of international justice.