The Second State Court (1910–1914) and the Charges against the Former Minister Nikola Genadiev (1903–1907)

The Institute for constitutional Ministerial criminal liability in Bulgaria is based on article 155-159 from the Constitution of the Bulgarian Principality, adopted in 1879. It provides for a specific procedure through which the members of the government to be judged outside of the civil courts. From 1880 to 1923, through this procedure four trials were held. In this case, we focus on the work of the Second State Court (1910–1914). He explores potential law violations committed by ministers from the popular liberal government of Bulgaria, in the period 1903-1908 years. Later, in 1913 year, the indictment, was published. Sixteen charges (individual and collective) have been brought against the former Minister of Trade and Agriculture N. Genadiev. In their analysis, two types of accusations emerge. In some of them, his decisions were approved in the Council of Ministers and in the National Assembly. The author of this article concludes that there should be no or few convictions here. In the other case – without the sanction of a higher authority, the violation of the laws by the former minister should end with more serious convictions. However, the third state court did not reach the end – due to a number of political reasons, in 1914 a decision was made to remove the responsibility from the accused former ministers.