Career
Born in Sliven, Panayotov graduated from the juridical faculty of Sofia University in 1983 with a degree in legal studies. He subsequently earned a doctorate and became a professor of criminal law in 2012. In 2001, Panayotov was elected to the National Parliament and was chosen as the chairman of the parliamentary group of the NDSV, a position that he held until he assumed a government position on 17 July 2003.
