site.btaTen Detained for Vote Buying in Sofia

Ten people were detained in a raid against vote-buying in Sofia’s Hristo Botev district Monday. Seven pre-trial proceedings were opened, Sofia Police Chief Lyubomir Nikolov said.

A party that submitted documents with false content to participate in the October 27 vote is being investigated, he also said adding that the party is not represented in the current Parliament. 

The cost of a vote is between BGN 100 and 150, according to Nikolov. 

Four addresses are being searched. The same schemes are being used to buy votes - through quick loans and remittances in shops. Notebooks with names were also found during police action. 

“We have been detecting new faces in this neighbourhood. Some of them have police records. Three weeks before the elections, the number of reports is the same as in the previous elections,” Nikolov added. 

Another twelve people were arrested for drug distribution.