site.bta328 Vote Rigging Reports, 26 Pre-trial Proceedings Launched by 4:30 p.m., Interior Ministry Secretary General Says

328 reports of election violations have been received, and 26 investigations have been launched by 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, the Interior Ministry's acting Secretary General Georgi Kandev said in a live Facebook broadcast.

Shortly after 5 p.m. caretaker Interior Minister Emil Dechev and the Interior Ministry's acting Secretary General Georgi Kandev briefed the public on the latest election violations data.

In the village of Septemvriytsi, Montana Region, a member of a polling station election commission cast 10 ballots on behalf of other individuals. Two people have been questioned in connection with the case, and two more are to be questioned. The commission representative has been detained for 24 hours, and it will be announced later which party nominated him to the SEC, caretaker Interior Minister Emil Dechev said at the briefing.

He added that in the village of Velikdenche, Kardzhali Region, the mayor’s daughter and her friend had cast ballots on behalf of other citizens. They have been detained for up to 24 hours.

In both cases, the Interior Ministry has initiated pre-trial proceedings.

“The Interior Ministry will be uncompromising toward all offenders,” Dechev said.

Earlier, Kandev reported that from the start of Election Day until 2:00 p.m. 181 vote rigging signals had been received, 13 pre-trial proceedings had been initiated, three people had been detained, and EUR 40,000 intended for vote-buying had been found.