“Regrettably, the judgment of Libya’s supreme court to uphold the death sentences of the five Bulgarian nurses and the Palestinian doctor who has a Bulgarian citizenship does not come as a surprise to us. We expected a confirmation of the death sentences at this stage. I would like to thank all partners of Bulgaria in Europe and worldwide for the support provided through all these years, as well as for the efforts to achieve a just settlement for a release of the Bulgarian medical workers, and for the aspiration to find sustainable solutions to the treatment of the Libyan HIV-infected children. Bulgaria expects and insists on an urgent convocation and expeditious decisions by Libya’s high judicial council for a definitive conclusion of the Bulgarian nurses’ case. We will persevere in our efforts, together with our European and other partners, towards achievement of a final accommodation and towards a decision of the high judicial council which is favourable to our nurses. I earnestly hope for understanding on the part of the Bulgarian nurses, that more specific details cannot be provided during the coming hours and days. I hope that the high judicial council will meet as soon as possible, as promised by the Libyan foreign ministry.”

- President Georgi Purvanov

“I hope that what the court has not achieved will be achieved by politicians: a pardon of the Bulgarian nurses in Libya and their return to Bulgaria. The problem is now entirely in the hands of politicians. To be fair, this decision is not unexpected. This judgment of the Libyan court removes an obstacle to an invigoration of political dialogue between the two countries.”

-  Prosecutor-General Boris Velchev

“We await the session of Libya’s High Judicial Council on July 16 and will refrain from comment until then”

- Dimitar Tsanchev, spokesperson for Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry

“We appeal to the Libyan authorities to show clemency and release the five nurses and the Palestinian doctor. I am greatly disturbed by this news, which is distressing for everybody, especially for the nurses and the doctor and also for their relatives and friends. This is not the end of the procedure. We believe that the Libyan authorities will take the necessary measures to review the death sentence and pave the way for an early resolution.”

- European Parliament President Hans Gert-Poettering