Diana Kovacheva (, born 16 July 1975) is a Bulgarian lawyer and politician, who served as justice minister from 30 November 2011 to 21 February 2013.

Early life and education

Kovacheva was born in

Sofia Sofia is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Bulgaria, largest city of Bulgaria. It is situated in the Sofia Valley at the foot of the Vitosha mountain, in the western part of the country. The city is built west of the Is ...

in 1975. She holds a law degree, which she received from Sofia Kliment Ohridski University. She also obtained a PhD in international law and international relations.

Career

Kovacheva worked as a researcher at the Institute for Legal Sciences of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences from 2000 to 2001. She was named executive director of Transparency International Bulgaria in August 2002. Her term lasted until 28 November 2011. On 30 November 2011, she was appointed justice minister to the cabinet led by prime minister

Boyko Borisov Boyko Metodiev Borisov (, born 13 June 1959) is a Bulgarian politician who served as Prime Minister of Bulgaria on three separate occasions, serving a total of 9 years between 2009 and 2021, making him the country's longest-serving post-communi ...

. She succeeded

Margarita Popova Margarita Stefanova Popova (; born 15 May 1957) is a Bulgarian jurist, prosecutor, educator who was Vice President of Bulgaria from 2012 to 2017. She previously served as Minister of Justice from 27 July 2009 to 4 September 2011 in the cabinet o ...

, who was elected vice-president of Bulgaria. Kovatcheva served until mid-March 2013, since the cabinet resigned. She was succeeded by caretaker justice minister Dragomir Yordanov. On 3 September 2019, Kovacheva was sworn in as Ombudsman of Bulgaria succeeding

Maya Manolova Maya Bozhidarova Manolova (; born 4 May 1965) is a Bulgarian politician and the leader of the political movement Stand Up.BG, part of the Stand Up! Mafia, Get Out!, Stand Up! Mafia, get out! coalition. She was formerly the vice-Chairman of the Nat ...

Awards

In June 2014 Diana Kovatcheva was awarded by

Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 19268 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. ...

with the

Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

for her tireless efforts in the fight against corruption, her work in the field of rule of law and her endeavor to bring transparency to the judiciary.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kovacheva, Diana 1975 births Living people Politicians from Sofia Sofia University alumni Bulgarian jurists Honorary members of the Order of the British Empire Women government ministers of Bulgaria Ombudsmen in Bulgaria Female justice ministers Justice ministers of Bulgaria