A National Network of Prosecutors and Investigators investigating crimes related to intellectual property and cybercrimes was established today at the National Investigation Service (NIS), the press center of the Public Prosecutor's Office announced.
The establishment of the National Network was attended by the acting Prosecutor General Vanya Stefanova, Borislav Sarafov – Director of the National Network of Criminal Investigations, experts from the US Department of Justice and the US Embassies in Sofia and Bucharest, lecturers and experts in intellectual property and countering cybercrime, as well as representatives of state institutions and organizations.
The goal of creating the network is to increase the competence and expert potential of prosecutors and investigators in the field of investigating crimes in cyberspace and is in response to public expectations for their faster and more effective investigation.
Interim Prosecutor General Vanya Stefanova welcomed the participants in the creation of the National Network. She expressed confidence that the network will yield good results, especially since the model has already been tested in countering human trafficking and terrorist financing. Specialization, qualification and teamwork are key to achieving good results, Vanya Stefanova added.
„Cybercrime is increasing by about 300% on an annual basis. This requires higher specialization and the creation of sustainable structures that can control this increasing flow of crimes“, said Borislav Sarafov. He pointed out that the idea for creating the National Network came from Prosecutor Raya Boncheva from the Supreme Cassation Prosecutor's Office, who is the national contact person for the prosecution on issues of intellectual property protection and computer crimes, and from Svetoslav Vassilev, head of the "Cybercrime" department at the National Prosecutor's Office.
Christy O’Miley, legal advisor on issues related to computer crimes and intellectual property at the US Department of Justice, presented the organization and structure of a similar network in the United States and indicated how it could support the national network created in Bulgaria. Matt Lamberti, Senior Advisor at the US Department of Justice, highlighted the excellent work of the National Investigation Service and the Prosecutor's Office in investigating the torrent trackers Arena and Zamunda.
The National Network is expected to involve prosecutors from all levels - from regional, district and appellate prosecutor's offices, as well as the Supreme People's Procuracy, investigators from the Cybercrime Department of the National Prosecutor's Office, and from the investigative departments in the district prosecutor's offices. "The goal is for them to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to complete investigations into this type of crime more quickly," said Svetoslav Vassilev. He thanked the US Department of Justice for its assistance, with which the Bulgarian Prosecutor's Office works together on a number of cases related to cybercrime. “After the closure of the large pirate sites, there are also smaller ones, as well as streaming platforms broadcasting pirated content - films and music“, said the head of the “Cybercrime“ department at the National Criminal Police Office.