site.btaPolice Finds Lists of 28,000 Voters Prepared to Be Used in Upcoming Snap Elections

Sofia, July 5 (BTA) - Speaking after the ceremony marking the
Interior Ministry's 142nd anniversary here on Monday, caretaker
Interior Minister Boyko Rashkov said that the police have found
lists of 28,000 voters in properties in the southeastern region
of Haskovo, belonging to persons connected with GERB. According
to preliminary information, the voter lists were used in the
last April 4 parliamentary elections and were prepared to be
used in the upcoming July 11 elections as well, Rashkov added.

According to the Interior Minister, these votes were likely
bought. He noted that, according to preliminary information,
these are GERB voters.
 
The head of the National Police General Directorate, Chief
Commissioner Stanimir Stanev, told journalists that three people
 - two brothers and the son of one of them, were arrested on
Sunday in the region of Haskovo. Searches of their parents'
homes yielded lists of 28,000 people. He added that the Haskovo
Regional Prosecution Office has initiated pre-trial proceedings.
 
In another case, also in the region of Haskovo, some 600 voters
were designated by the health care authorities as disabled,
allowing them to request a mobile ballot box, which uses
paper ballots, Stanev explained, adding that this creates a risk
 for vote tampering. He noted that the types of disabilities in
question do not constitute difficulties walking that would
require mobile ballot boxes.

Asked whether the Interior Ministry is working well with the
prosecuting magistracy, he said they work together and that the
police notified the prosecuting magistracy about their first
actions, but not in advance. 

"It's obvious that we cannot expect cooperation from the
prosecuting magistracy's current leadership," Minister Rashkov
said, adding that the prosecuting magistracy is rather hampering
 his Ministry's work. "Nevertheless, we will do our job despite
of this," he said.

Rashkov explained that he has received information on Monday,
according to which the prosecuting magistracy seems to have
received instructions to ignore police work concerning
revelations related to ensuring fair elections, which is the
Ministry's priority.

***

Later on Monday, the prosecuting magistracy issued a position in
 response to Boyko Rashkov's statements.

Minister Rashkov's statement in front of national media, which
contains negative remarks and assessments about the work of
prosecutors across the country, is an attempted encroachment on
the prosecuting magistracy's independence, the position reads.

The prosecuting magistracy notes that they will defend and back
each magistrate who performs their official duty in line with
the law and according to the principles of the rule of law. The
prosecuting magistracy describes Rashkov's statement as an
attempt at illegally influence and intervene in the work of
magistrates concerning specific pre-trial proceedings, which is
against the constitutionally established separation of powers.

This affects the prosecuting magistracy's independence, aims at
damaging the Judiciary's reputation and violates the rule of law
 principle, the position says.

The position will be circulated to the Bulgarian President, the
European Parliament, the European Commission, the embassies of
EU Member States in Bulgaria, the US Embassy and the British
Embassy.

The prosecuting magistracy also said on Monday that it has
opened 171 case files, responding to alerts from members of the
public, the State Agency for National Security and the Interior
Ministry, containing information about violations of citizens'
political rights. Twenty pre-trial proceedings have been
initiated in response to suspected vote buying.

The Supreme Cassation Prosecution Office has conducted an
analysis on the incoming alerts about election legislation
violations. The analysis has shown that there were instances
last week, where the police was slow to alert and report the
responsible prosecutors. A number of reports and alerts received
 from the police were incomplete and lacked sufficient data
about the circumstances, which necessitates additional probes by
 the supervising prosecutors. The problems with the coordination
 between the prosecuting magistracy and the investigative
authorities could lead to people suspected in election
violations to evade justice. NV/MY