60In the present case, it appears that the confiscation proceedings pending before the referring court are civil in nature and that those proceedings coexist, in national law, with the regime for confiscation under criminal law. It is true that, pursuant to Article 22(1) of the Law on Confiscation, such proceedings are initiated by the Commission for confiscation of the assets where the latter is informed of the fact that a person is accused of having committed certain criminal offences. However, it is clear from the information in the file before the Court and the information provided at the hearing by the European Commission for confiscation of assets, the Bulgarian Government and the Commission that, in accordance with the provisions of that law, once commenced, those proceedings, which only concern assets alleged to have been illegally obtained, are conducted independently of any criminal proceedings brought against the person accused of committing offences and of the outcome of such proceedings, and in particular of the possible conviction of that person.
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