site.btaProsecutor General: Tension in Assenovgrad Result of Long-tolerated Feeling of Impunity

Bourgas, on the Black Sea, July 10 (BTA) - The tension in the southern town of Assenovgrad is not ethnic, but it is convenient to present it as such, said here on Monday Prosecutor General Sotir Tsatsarov. His personal view is that the tension is the result of a long-tolerated feeling of impunity. This perception of impunity is not only the result of committed crimes that go unpunished, but continues across Bulgarian towns and villages, where illegal construction and a number of administrative violations in Roma neighbourhoods are being tolerated and viewed more condescendingly, Tsatsarov said. He is in Bourgas to attend a conference of the Supreme Judicial Council.

The Prosecutor General further noted that the money for integrating the Roma population have been spent on the integration "of those who have spent them".

Commenting the recent protests and tension in Assenovgrad, Tsatsarov recalled that charges are to be pressed this week against Socialist MP Manol Genov for his alleged involvement in vote buying among the Roma population. The Prosecutor General said that precisely the Roma are sought after during elections. The solution to this whole problem is for everyone and each violation to be punished equally, he said, adding that an end must be put to the political marketing in Roma neighbourhoods.

Tsatsarov further added that this minority population has been tolerated for years because it generates much needed votes and has a total feeling of impunity.

The Prosecutor General further commented that a record for the Bulgarian criminal trial process is to be set by July 20, when the indictment for Corporate Commercial Bank is to be submitted to the Specialized Criminal Court, which consists of 15,000 pages and is against 19 defendants.