site.btaUPDATED Interior Ministry's Varna Directorate Head Dismissed to Restore Confidence in City's Police

Interior Ministry's Varna Directorate Director Andrey Angelov has been dismissed from his post, Interior Minister Daniel Mitov said here on Thursday. He stressed that this was dictated not because of Angelov's professional qualities, but because managerial action was needed to start restoring confidence in the Varna police.

The reason for the Minister's visit to Varna is the tension that arose after the death of 36-year-old Yavor Georgiev, who died after he was taken in custody.

The young man's relatives and friends have come out in protest as they believe police violence was perpetrated against him and are demanding a full clarification of the truth.

"Less than two months ago, I made a tour of all the regional directorates and very clear instructions were given that because of the constant cases of overstepping police powers, the heads should conduct training for the officers and they must wear body cameras," Mitov said. “Unfortunately, we are now finding a tragic case where we are again seeing police overreach,” the Minister added. He said this was a symptom of deficits in police self-control and training, which would have to be addressed.

According to Mitov, even more drastic measures should be taken to comply with the rules on the wearing of body cameras by employees. A police officer is a representative of the State and when he shows rudeness or carelessness, it affects the credibility of the State, the Minister said, stressing that this credibility is now broken in Varna. He further added that the internal regulations and rules of the department would be changed so that failure to wear and activate body cameras becomes a disciplinary offence. The two police officers against whom disciplinary proceedings are underway in Varna did not even take them [the cameras], Mitov said.

Considering the breach of trust towards the police in the seaside town, the Minister will insist that a repeat autopsy be carried out on Yavor Georgiev. Mitov expressed confidence that the prosecution service would support his position. According to him, this will avoid any speculations that someone is hiding or manipulating information in the case.

For the past 20 years there have been dozens of convictions against Bulgaria for exceeding police powers, the Minister added. He said there were ways to de-escalate tensions when making arrests, regardless of the person's condition. Whether the two policemen will be held criminally liable in addition to disciplinary responsibility will become clear after all the facts and circumstances surrounding Georgiev's case are clarified, the minister said.

In a related development, acting Prosecutor general Borislav Sarafov ordered a repeat forensic medical examination in the Yavor Georgiev case.