site.btaMRF Parliamentary Group Releases Names of Alleged Victims of Repression

Levent Memish of the parliamentary group of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) read a declaration in Parliament on Wednesday to express the MRF's opposition to systematic repression and violation of democratic principles in Bulgaria. Memish reported that new reports of dismissals, inspections and threats targeting MRF members arrive daily, with dozens of cases of unjustified firings in Kardzhali Municipality alone.

The MP said that having state bodies utilize thuggish approaches and repression against inconvenient opponents is not way to build a state or a democracy.

Memish listed the following people as allegedly having suffered from "institutional abuse":

• Sezgin Galib, Regional Chair of the MRF in Silistra, who was dismissed as director of the state game farm Karakuz
• Tunchay Akif, Dulovo municipal councillor, who was arrested and had documents seized after his house was searched
• Hyusein Dzhelil, another Dulovo municipal councillor and teacher, who was searched at his workplace in front of third and fourth graders
• Dulovo Mayor Nevhis Mustafa, who received threats, was investigated by the Public Financial Inspection Agency twice within a year and was charged with crimes against the political rights of citizens.

Memish stated that the MRF will continue to shine a light on specific cases, because "any injustice is a challenge to democratic values."