Conference Judicial Independence Under Watch: PANEL II: International Experience

Part 2 of The International conference "Justice Under Surveillance: European Standards Against Secret Monitoring and Profiling of Magistrates”, which took place on Thursday, 22 October 2026 in Sofia. The conference brought together over 60 judges, prosecutors, lawyers and representatives of various institutions. It was organised by the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee and the Bulgarian Judges Association, with the support of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, in continuation of an ongoing discussion about the mechanisms being used for undue influence on the judiciary. 00:00 PANEL II: International Experience – Crisis Management, Influence Networks, and Security Services 01:31 Moderator: Bilyana Gyaurova-Wegertseder 04:18 Judge Carlo Sabatini (Italy): Special Surveillance Measures and Political Influence on the Judiciary: The Italian Experience 18:30 Laura Ștefan (Romania): The Fine Line Between Anti-Corruption and Judicial Independence: Lessons Learned from Dismantling Protocols Between Intelligence Services and the Judiciary in Romania 40:53 Assoc. prof. Iva Pushkarova (Sofia University): Mechanisms of Pressure on Magistrates and Safeguards in Practice 01:05:10 Discussion & Q&A Session