site.btaUPDATED Interior Ministry Receives Over 1,000 Election Violation Reports, 183 Detained

As of 8:30 a.m. on Monday, a total of 1,042 reports of violations of the election process have been received, and 183 people have been detained, Deputy Interior Minister Ivan Anchev said at a briefing of the Coordination Council for the preparation of the early parliamentary elections. He noted that during the same period ahead of the 2024 elections, the number of reports stood at 179. 

Anchev also presented additional data, stating that 308 criminal proceedings have been initiated so far, compared to 58 during the same period in 2024. The number of fast-track proceedings is 307, compared to 53 in 2024. Those detained now number 183, compared to 35 in the same period last year, while warning protocols issued under the Interior Ministry Act total 2,741, compared to 662 in 2024. 

By April 3, a total of 167 specialized police operations had been carried out, compared to 173 as of October 14, 2024, Anchev added. He emphasized that the results achieved have been accomplished with fewer resources, despite the higher number of reports, proceedings, and actions taken. 

As of 8:00 a.m. Monday, the transportation of election materials from the printing house in Pleven to Ruse, Silistra, and Dobrich has begun, with the materials being guarded by officers from the Gendarmerie Directorate General, the Deputy Minister said. 

Anchev also noted that on April 3, representatives of the Interior Ministry held a meeting with representatives of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), during which they presented specific details of the Ministry’s activities in preparing for the elections. 

An organization has been put in place within the Bulgarian Identity Documents Directorate to accelerate the issuance of ID cards and certificates in connection with the elections. 

Between March 19 and April 2 inclusive, a total of 29,319 ID cards were processed and issued, Anchev said, adding that this information was sent on April 3 to the Council of Ministers and the prosecution service. 

The Interior Ministry will hold national meetings with regional directorates from Southern and Northern Bulgaria, dedicated entirely to the preparation and conduct of the elections, the Deputy Minister said, adding that a meeting will take place in Plovdiv (South Bulgaria) on Monday and in Veliko Tarnovo (North-Central Bulgaria) on Tuesday. 

Later in the day, the acting Secretary General of the Interior Ministry, Georgi Kandev, said in Plovdiv that a total of 1,094 reports of election violations have been received so far, 13 days ahead of the vote, compared to 179 during the same period before the 2024 elections. 

The number of criminal proceedings has reached 330, up from 58 in 2024. Detentions stand at 188 compared to 35 previously, while warning protocols have risen to 2,785 from 662 during the last elections, he said. 

Kandev added that 173 specialized police operations have been carried out so far, matching the number conducted during the same period in 2024. Despite using similar resources, authorities are achieving between four and six times better results, he noted.