site.btaDemocracy, Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights Monitoring Group (DRFMG) Asks 29 Follow-up Questions of Bulgarian Authorities

Sofia, September 16 (BTA) - The Democracy, Rule of Law and
Fundamental Rights Monitoring Group (DRFMG) which is part of the
 Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE)
asks 29 additional questions of Bulgarian authorities on its
website. The Committee held an in-camera meeting about the
situation in Bulgaria at the end of August which was not
attended by Prime Minister Boyko Borissov or Prosecutor General
Ivan Geshev. Following are some of the major issues brought up
by the DRFMG:

Recently the Spanish media published information on an on-going
investigation connecting allegedly the PM Borissov with a
money-laundering scheme in Barcelona. Is the Bulgarian
Prosecution working on this case, having in mind that it
received signal on this case already in 2019? If yes, at what
stage is the investigation?

Several months ago, several audio recordings were released in
the press. Among many other things that are presented in these
recordings, at a certain moment the voice that seems to be the
voice of PM Borissov threatens to burn down a leading politician
 from the opposition, currently a fellow MEP. Is there any
investigation or preliminary check in this regard? If yes, at
what stage? 

Bulgarian citizens witnessed different audio recordings and
pictures published in the media. But not all of these recordings
 and pictures were anonymous. Some transcripts and recordings
were sent officially by the Prosecution - some of them during
on-going cases, some of them even before initiating a case. How
do you assess this practice?

Following the in-camera meeting of the DRFMG, the Prosecutor
General of Bulgaria published on the official homepage
information that the meeting was organised at the suggestion of
the Prosecutor General of Bulgaria. In fact, it was the DRFMG
that took the decision to hold this meeting and invited the
Prosecutor General who sent his deputy. Are you willing to
correct this false information?

Bulgaria comes at the 111th place in the media freedom index. In
 addition,  individual journalists are reporting threats and
intimidation. What will the government do to increase
transparency of ownership, promote the plurality of media
ownership and ensure the safety of journalists?

A question to Deputy Prosecutor General Krasimira Filipova: What
 specific measures has the Prosecution taken in the fight
against corruption? Have politicians been investigated and
charged, and which political parties do they originate from
predominantly? Are they from political parties both in
Government and in Opposition?

There are also questions about the proposed constitutioional
changes in the context of the protest action, and about media
ownership concentration. 

NV/MT