site.btaParliament Passes Conclusively Counter-Terrorism Act

Parliament Passes Conclusively Counter-Terrorism Act

Sofia, December 15 (BTA) - Bulgaria's Parliament Thursday passed conclusively the Counter-Terrorism Act, voting through the remaining provisions of the bill.

According to the clauses approved on Thursday, it will be admissible to restrict certain civil rights temporarily in the anti-terrorist operation zone. When requested to do so by the head of the operation, the mass media will have to transmit immediately unedited information needed to keep the public informed. The information that the mass media report during an anti-terrorist operation must not contain any data disclosing special techniques and tactics used in the operation, the identity of the persons involved in the operation, and other data that may impede the conduct of the operation or endanger human life and health.

The Transitional and Final Provisions of the Act amended the State Agency for National Security Act, empowering authorities of the Agency to apprehend persons in specified cases. Atanas Atanassov MP of the Reformist Bloc objected to these provisions, arguing that it is inexplicable why the State Agency for National Security should be vested with police powers.

The Special Surveillance Means Act was also amended, specifying the procedure for the deployment of such means in case of a terrorist threat. The use of special surveillance means will be authorized by the president of the Specialized Criminal Court or a vice president empowered by him. The periods for application of special surveillance means were increased. Ivan Ivanov MP of BSP-Left Bulgaria warned that the new provisions open the door wide for eavesdropping.

A provision was added in the Electronic Communications Act, according to which the telephone and mobile service providers will not have the right to register or activate more than 10 telephone numbers for pre-paid telephone services in the name of a single user.