“There is no data whether any of the four police officers who perpetrated the violence against protesters on 10 July last year have been held criminally responsible or whether criminal proceedings have been initiated against any of them. On the other hand, pre-trial proceedings have been initiated against the citizens who were beaten,” said Interior Minister Boyko Rashkov during a hearing in parliament, and described the footage showing the brutality and humiliation the protesters were subjected to, as a “horror film”. The interior minister added that one of the victims lost consciousness - a temporarily life-threatening state, qualified by the Criminal Code as moderate bodily injury.
“Not only did the police officers exceed their powers, their actions border on the criminal,” Boyko Rashkov added. He urged the then interior minister to say whether the footage was concealed, and explained that it had been kept at the National Service for Protection and that a week after the incident it was demanded by the Sofia Metropolitan Directorate of the Interior. “All this was known at the time,” he said. According to Boyko Rashkov, there was a probe but it was concluded with no result, as the Sofia Metropolitan Directorate of the Interior was, in effect, conducting an inspection of its own self.
After Rashkov's hearing, the Bulgarian parliament adopted a statement condemning police violence against protesters last year and asked Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev to report on the prosecution's actions during the protests. The report must be submitted by August 20.
On the sidelines of parliament, former Interior Minister Mladen Marinov apologized for the violence. Marinov said that he had ordered an inspection based on videos that were probably shot by protesters.
Friday will be sunny and temperatures will rise during the day to reach 28-33°C, 29°C in the capital. Lows will be between 11 and 16°C, 11°C in Sofia. The Black Sea coast will be sunny with some fog in the morning. Air temperatures will be..
Municipal councilors from "Blue Sofia" submitted a report in which they insist that the "St. Alexander Nevsky" square in Sofia should be renamed "St. Ivan Rilski". "The square is the most representative public space of the capital of Bulgaria,..
The European Commission has called on Bulgaria and 25 other EU countries to introduce a fast-track approval procedure for renewable energy projects. The new rules should have been in place by 1 July this year. The EC has launched infringement..
The Central Election Commission held a draw to determine the order in which the parties and coalitions will appear on the ballot for the early..
"It's about time." Thus succinctly President Rumen Radev commented from New York on the possibility that on October 10 of this year a proposal be..
Starting October 11, 2024, a Turkish shipping company will operate a ferry connection between Istanbul and Burgas. It will mainly..
+359 2 9336 661