Disciplinary proceedings against notary Zhelyo Kostov

Minister of Justice Nikolay Naydenov has officially submitted a proposal to the Notary Chamber for the initiation of disciplinary proceedings against notary Zhelyo Kostov. The action was taken following an in-depth investigation by the Ministry of Justice Inspectorate into the landmark "Baba Alino" case in Varna.

The investigation reveals that the violations in the notary's office were not isolated incidents, but a systemic practice that endangers the legality of property transactions.

Main findings of the investigation:

  • Lack of mandatory checks in the Notary Chamber's information system.
  • Failure to establish the identity, legal capacity, and representative authority of the parties to the transactions.
  • Lack of legally required declarations and documents.
  • Execution of transactions for "parking spaces" and "yard plots" on land with the status of "forest territory," where construction is prohibited.
  • Violations of the Spatial Planning Act (SPA) regarding the establishment of easements.

The "Baba Alino" case is part of a large-scale operation in Varna, during which over 140,000 pages of evidence were seized and nine criminal proceedings were initiated. The Ministry of Justice emphasizes that investigations are continuing regarding other notaries involved in the disputed transactions.