About us
Management Board
Kalina Stancheva
Chairperson of the Management Board – Judge at the Sofia Regional Court
Kalina Stancheva is a judge at the Sofia Regional Court and a PhD candidate in criminal procedure at the Institute for the State and Law of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Her professional career combines judicial practice with research and international activities, including participation in international professional and training programs focused on justice, mediation, and judicial independence. She is a member of the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ) and GEMME Europe, and she actively works to uphold professional standards, judicial independence, and the role of women in the justice system.
Full biography
Ralitsa Andonova
Member of the Management Board – Judge at the Administrative Court – Varna
A magistrate with extensive experience serving as a junior judge, a judge in district courts, and a judge at the Administrative Court of Varna since its establishment in 2007. Possesses professional expertise in criminal, administrative-penal, and administrative adjudication. Has participated in EJTN internships at administrative and supreme courts in Berlin and Rome, as well as training programs at the Academy of European Law (ERA) in Trier, Germany, focusing on human rights and environmental protection. Acts as a mentor for trainee lawyers during their judicial internships and as a lecturer for high school students on topics such as administrative-penal liability and the application of the Administrative Violations and Penalties Act (ZANN) and the Administrative Procedure Code (APK); also organizes mock trials involving students and events for the annual Open Day at the Administrative Court of Varna.
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Lidiya Georgieva
Member of the Management Board – Judge at the Svoge District Court
She is a graduate of Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski." She served as a junior prosecutor and prosecutor at the Burgas Regional Prosecutor's Office. Following a successful transfer competition, she was appointed as a judge at the Svoge Regional Court. Currently, having won a competition for the position of administrative head, she serves as the President of the Svoge Regional Court. She was seconded for a one-year period to the European Court of Human Rights. She is a member of the National Judicial Network for Cooperation in Criminal Matters. She is proficient in English and French.
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Svetoslava Koleva-Angelova
Member of the Management Board – Judge at the Varna Court of Appeal
Svetoslava Koleva-Angelova has served as a judge since 1998. Her career has spanned the Varna Regional Court and the Varna District Court, and since 2020, she has been a judge in the Criminal Division of the Varna Appellate Court. Her professional interests lie in the fields of criminal law and procedure, European Union law, and international judicial cooperation. Her interest in EU law led her back to the university classroom—this time as a sitting judge—where she completed the International Master’s Program in European Union Law offered jointly by Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" and the University of Lorraine, France. She serves as a contact point for the European Judicial Network (EJN) in criminal matters and the EuroMed Justice Network, is a member of CRIMEX, and participates as a lecturer in training programs organized by the National Institute of Justice. A significant aspect of her professional work focuses on the relationship between the court and society, as well as engagement with children and young people. She believes in the power of leading by example and direct dialogue as a means for young people to develop knowledge, values, and their own informed perspectives. She initiated the Varna Appellate Court’s educational program "Children and Drugs: Truths and Myths," which brings together judges, individuals who have overcome addiction, and students for open discussions on drugs, addiction, consequences, and personal choices. In 2023, she was honored with the "Giovanni Falcone" Award by the Municipality of Blagoevgrad for her contribution to curbing the spread and use of narcotics and for supporting causes benefiting society and young people. She believes that the judicial profession requires continuous development—both professional and personal. While legal knowledge and accumulated experience form the foundation, they are not sufficient on their own. A good judge must maintain curiosity and a willingness to learn, possess self-awareness, and understand people as well as the ever-changing world around them. For her, judicial independence and impartiality do not imply isolation from society; rather, they are compatible with open and accessible dialogue with citizens.
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Angelina Lazarova
Member of the Management Board – Judge at the Varna Court of Appeal
A judge with extensive experience in criminal adjudication. Areas of specialization include international cooperation, judicial training, judicial ethics, legal technology, and artificial intelligence within the judicial system. Has served as both an occasional and permanent instructor at the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and as a lecturer for the European Judicial Training Network (EJTN) and various national and international training centers and forums; mentored two NIJ teams that achieved success in the THEMIS competition organized by the EJTN. Has represented Bulgaria in EU legislative initiatives, the EJTN, the European Judicial Network in criminal matters, and working groups of CEPEJ, UNODC, and others. Author of numerous studies, papers, and presentations regarding national judicial training standards, judicial professional competence, various aspects of substantive and procedural criminal law, and the application of mutual recognition instruments in criminal matters within the EU. Has participated in various national and international working groups. Served two consecutive terms as the representative of non-affiliated judges (those not belonging to professional associations) on the Partnership Council of the Supreme Judicial Council of the Republic of Bulgaria. Initiated the establishment of the Association of Women Judges in Bulgaria—a professional organization for serving Bulgarian judges and an affiliate of the International Association of Women Judges.
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Marieta Nedelcheva
Member of the Management Board – Judge at the Sofia District Court
Marieta Nedelcheva is a judge with over two decades of experience in criminal justice; she has held leadership positions within the specialized justice system—which was dissolved in 2022—and has served as a judge in the Criminal Division of the Sofia District Court since 2022. Alongside her judicial duties, she acts as the national contact point for the National Judicial Network for International Cooperation in Criminal Matters, a contact point for the European Judicial Network (EJN), and Bulgaria’s contact point for crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide within the Eurojust national coordination system. Judge Nedelcheva is a visiting lecturer at the National Institute of Justice, delivering lectures on criminal law and procedure, the application of international cooperation instruments in criminal matters, the digitalization of justice, and artificial intelligence. She frequently speaks at international forums organized by the European Judicial Training Network, the Academy of European Law, and other organizations. Judge Nedelcheva is dedicated to upholding the independence of the Bulgarian judiciary and boosting public trust in the sector, as well as driving innovation and modernization through the implementation of modern technologies and artificial intelligence.
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Nedelina Marinova-Parashkevova
Member of the Management Board – Judge at the Varna Regional Court
Nedelina Marinova-Parashkevova began her judicial career in 2016, serving as a junior judge at the Varna Regional Court (Criminal and Civil Divisions) until 2018. Since July 2018, she has served as a judge at the Varna District Court (Civil Division). She is a member of the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ). She has participated in numerous international training programs and study visits focused on judicial independence and European Union law. She has also lectured in educational programs at schools and universities, including the joint initiative of the Supreme Judicial Council and the Ministry of Education and Science titled "The Judiciary – Informed Choice and Public Trust: Open Courts and Prosecutor's Offices." In her daily judicial work, she is guided by key priorities such as the rule of law and impartiality, transparency and accessibility, and the promotion of voluntary dispute resolution. She identifies the strengthening of judicial independence and the role of the court as the cornerstone of any state governed by the rule of law as the primary focus of her activities within the association.
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