site.btaParliament Rejects Four Hearing Proposals, Including One about Attacks on Two Ships in Black Sea

Parliament rejected here on Wednesday four proposals for hearings concerning the attacks on two commercial vessels in the Black Sea economic zone, the presidential pardon of Ognyan Atanasov, rising prices of medical services and pharmaceutical products, as well as public procurement contracts for guardrails and the financing of flights by Delyan Peevski. The proposals were read out by Parliament Chair Mihaela Dotsova.

Lawmakers rejected a proposal by Democratic Bulgaria (DB) to include in Thursday's parliamentary agenda a hearing of the Director General of the Directorate General for the Execution of Sentences, the Chairman of the State Agency for National Security (SANS), the Chief Secretary of the Interior Ministry, the Director of the General Directorate for Combating Organized Crime (GDCOC), and the director of the Sofia Prison hospital. The hearing was intended to address the circumstances surrounding the preparation of medical documents concerning the conduct of Ognyan Atanasov, known as the “Petrich Escobar,” while serving his prison sentence, which were used in granting him a pardon; reports of possible pressure and threats against doctors; the exchange of information with the presidential institution; and possible links between Atanasov and SANS and the Interior Ministry. Atanasov was pardoned by President Iliana Iotova while she served as vice president on medical grounds. 

Also rejected was a proposal by Vazrazhdane for a hearing of Health Minister Katya Ivkova, National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) Governor Vladimir Daskalov, and National Council on Prices and Reimbursement of Medicinal Products Chair Alexandra Savova. The proposed hearing concerned rising prices of medical services and pharmaceutical products, the financial burden of patient co-payments, and planned measures to ensure access to affordable treatment.

Lawmakers also rejected a DB proposal for a hearing of Prime Minister Rumen Radev, Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev, Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov, Transport and Communications Minister Georgi Peev, SANS Chair Plamen Tonchev, State Intelligence Agency Chairman Antoan Gechev, and Defence Intelligence Service Director Brigadier General Venelin Venev regarding the strikes against commercial vessels in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea on October 6.

A proposal by the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) was also rejected. It called for a hearing of Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Galab Donev, Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev, and Regional Development and Public Works Minister Ivan Shishkov concerning reported improper practices related to public procurement contracts for the installation of guardrails, as well as information about funds paid under such contracts allegedly being directed toward financing flights by MRF leader Delyan Peevski. The proposal also sought information on the amount spent on the flights, their invoicing, the individuals who paid the expenses, and information about persons linked to them.

Following a proposal by Progressive Bulgaria, a hearing of Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev has been included in Thursday's agenda. It will concern reported improper practices related to public procurement contracts for the installation of guardrails, as well as information about funds paid under such contracts allegedly being directed toward financing flights by Delyan Peevski. 

The first item on Parliament’s agenda on Wednesday is the first-reading debate on a bill to amend the Health Care Establishments Act, submitted by Continue the Change.