site.btaProsecution Service Charges 34 People for Crimes against Citizens' Political Rights

A total of 3,021 case files have been reported to and opened by the prosecution service since the start of the election campaign until this morning, with 599 pre-trial proceedings initiated, including 252 fast-track proceedings for crimes against citizens’ political rights, the prosecution service said on Monday.

A total of 34 people have been charged. As of Monday, 2,283 case files have been refused the opening of pre-trial proceedings due to insufficient data on a committed crime, and in some cases due to the lack of legal grounds, i.e. anonymous signals were submitted.

By appellate regions, the election-related pre-trial proceedings are distributed as follows: Sofia Appellate Prosecution Office - 233; Burgas Appellate Prosecution Office - 86; Plovdiv Appellate Prosecution Office - 76; Varna Appellate Prosecution Office - 139; Veliko Tarnovo Appellate Prosecution Office - 65. The fast-track proceedings are distributed as follows: Sofia Appellate Prosecution Office - 134; Burgas Appellate Prosecution Office - 52; Plovdiv Appellate Prosecution Office - 24; Varna Appellate Prosecution Office - 25; Veliko Tarnovo Appellate Prosecution Office - 17.

During the election campaign, 127 requests for the use of special surveillance means were submitted to the court by district prosecution offices across the country at the proposal of the Interior Ministry authorities, the prosecution service added.

At the Sofia City Prosecution Office, 166 case files are being handled (including those referred by prosecution offices across the country), based on signals alleging crimes committed by individuals with immunity. Six pre-trial proceedings have been initiated.

On Sunday, caretaker Interior Minister Emil Dechev announced that a total of 2,974 reports of election violations had been received by the Interior Ministry since the start of the campaign, marking a 204% increase, or threefold, compared to the previous parliamentary elections.