Mariya Pavlova holds a Master’s Degree in Law from the Paisii Hilendarski University of Plovdiv that she graduated in 1996.
She was an investigating officer at the Metropolitan (Sofia) Investigation Service (1998-2006), a prosecutor at the Sofia District Prosecution Office (2006-2012), an investigating officer at the National Investigation Service (2012-27 January 2017).
She served as Minister of Justice in a Caretaker Government following an appointment by a decree of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria (27 January 2017-4 May 2017).
After the end of the term in office in May 2017, she resumed her position at the National Investigation Service (NIS). In the beginning of 2019, she was appointed as the Spokesperson for the Service. Later she headed the NSI Analytical Unit and was a member of the NSI Ethics Commission.
Between 17 May 2021-27 January 2022 and 8 August 2022-14 June 2023 Mariya Pavlova was Deputy Minister of Justice in two caretaker governments. From 9 February 2022 to 8 August 2022, she was the head of Department 01 Specialized within the NIS. She was a deputy of the Prosecutor General of the Supreme Prosecution Office between 19 June 2023 and 9 April 2024.
Mariya Pavlova was appointed again as the Minister of Justice of a caretaker government on 9 April 2024.
