I expect the approval of the draft for new Penal Code by the Council of Ministers to occur by the end of the year, Vice-Premier and Justice Minister Zinaida Zlatanova declared at a meeting of the parliamentary Legal Affairs Committee, where she has answered questions of members of the committee.

Before consideration of the Council of Ministers, the draft for new Penal Code will be submitted to public discussion and moved to parliament probably after the winter recess, Minister Zlatanova added. She noted the work on the draft is continuing for already three years and many experts from academia, judges, prosecutors, investigators and other specialists were asked to take part. Currently the last 7 chapters, which require expertise in the fields of financial crimes, IT and terrorism, are under way.