site.btaPM Zhelyazkov: No Evidence of Abuse of Power by Interior Ministry during Arrest of Varna Mayor Blagomir Kotsev

There is no evidence of abuse of power by the Ministry of Interior in the arrest of Varna Mayor Blagomir Kotsov, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov told journalists on Sunday. He specified that he had spoken with Interior Minister Daniel Mitov on the subject.

"I am not aware of any details regarding allegations that there was anything scandalous about the arrest. In principle, all detention measures, such as administrative measures lasting up to 24 hours, are a form of coercion against an individual, in which we cannot seek either ethics or aesthetics. We can seek strict compliance with the law. And the law does not allow for humiliating treatment or excessive actions," said Zhelyazkov.

He added that from the moment the court rules on the measure of restraint, there is no way to seek accountability and responsibility from the police. "We take all allegations about the police's conduct in the performance of their duties very seriously, because law enforcement must not only be within the law, but also earn the trust of the public with its steadfastness and determination," the prime minister added. 

Asked by journalists to comment on the fact that Assen Vassilev's name is linked to the arrest of Varna Mayor Blagomir Kotsev, Zhelyazkov said: "I can comment on his desire to waive his immunity, but this can only happen in the context of proceedings or a request to lift parliamentary immunity. To date, no such request has been submitted to the National Assembly, so we can only comment on a hypothesis, which at this stage we have nothing to comment on, either politically or legally."