site.btaProsecution Service, Interior Ministry and National Security Agency Pledge Joint Action for Fair Elections

The Prosecution Service, the Interior Ministry and the State Agency for National Security (SANS) held a working meeting on Wednesday to discuss joint oversight of the April 19 early parliamentary elections and the preceding campaign. The aim is to ensure, to the fullest possible extent, the legality of the citizens’ vote and to enable a swift and adequate response to crimes related to the conduct of the elections, the Prosecution Service said.

The meeting at the National Investigation Service in Sofia was attended by acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov and his deputy Vanya Stefanova, the administrative head of the Sofia City Prosecutor’s Office Emiliya Rusinova, acting Interior Ministry Secretary General Georgi Kandev, National Police Director Emil Parmakov and his deputy Ivan Madzharov, SANS representatives, administrative heads of regional prosecutor’s offices and prosecutors from the Supreme Cassation Prosecution Office.

Opening the meeting, Sarafov stated that each of the three institutions has a key role in ensuring the fairness of the elections in defence of the public interest, and therefore they must demonstrate unity. “We are fully aware of our responsibility and duty to society, and we will neither succumb to provocations nor breach the law or resolve cases in anyone’s interest,” the acting Prosecutor General said. He highlighted the role of the Interior Ministry not only in detecting but also in preventing electoral violations and offences.

Deputy Prosecutor General Vanya Stefanova provided practical clarifications on issues related to the elections and the electoral process concerning the functions, powers and competences of the various levels of the prosecutor’s offices in relation to investigating crimes against citizens’ political rights.

During the meeting, representatives of all three institutions reaffirmed their commitment to joint action within their legally established powers with the aim of ensuring the conduct of fair and transparent elections, the press release said.