A judge in Sofia, Bulgaria, is under fire after allegedly leaking a fellow lawyer’s private photos and phone number to a Telegram group used by sex workers—prompting a wave of harassment.
Judge Velizar Kostadinov of the Sofia District Court is accused of uploading images of lawyer Anna Adamova to a secret Telegram channel with over 5,000 members, shortly after she criticized him in a national TV interview.
Adamova says she was bombarded with graphic messages and calls at all hours, only to discover she had been falsely listed in a prostitution forum.
“Hundreds of unknown men called me around the clock and messaged me naked photos and what not,” she told Nova TV.
“My photos and phone number were posted in hidden, secret groups on Telegram for prostitutes.”
An investigation by Bulgaria’s Cybercrime Department confirmed that the phone number responsible for the post belonged to Judge Kostadinov—who had previously clashed with Adamova in court.
History of Harassment
Adamova had testified in a drink-driving case against Georgi Gyorev, but Kostadinov controversially dismissed her testimony and acquitted the defendant, citing bias.
Following that, Kostadinov reportedly attempted to sabotage her career, sending complaints to her employer and to the Bulgarian Institute of State and Law to derail her doctoral work.
After she spoke out on television, the retaliation escalated.
One obscene post linked to her read: “I was told she likes it in the back door.”
Denial and Fallout
Kostadinov denies any wrongdoing, claiming someone else used his phone. However, the General Directorate of Criminal Investigation has traced the origin of the leak directly to him.
Adamova has filed a formal complaint with the Supreme Judicial Council, triggering a high-profile investigation that could lead to disciplinary or criminal charges.
