The police operation carried out in Kardzhali last Friday, when police broke in a private home and allegedly hurt people there, was thoroughly legal, stated Bulgarian Minister of Interior Tsvetan Tsvetanov Thursday.
“Everything that took place in Kardzhali is within the bounds of the law,” said Tsvetanov, adding that until someone is proven to be guilty he, as a minister, will continue to defend “professional actions” on the part of policemen.
“We must not politicize a regular police action,” called Tsvetanov, regarding criticism on the part of both people hurt and opposition parties Bulgarian Socialist Party and Movement for Rights and Freedoms.
He failed to comment whether the police had a court order to enter a private home Friday.
The interior minister was nevertheless resolute that investigation on the events will continue until a full clarification of the case. On the other hand he stated that the account the police gave does not conflict with the accounts of witnesses.
He praised the work of the Bulgarian police as a whole and largely played down allegations about other cases of arbitrary police coercion.
Author: Highlander, 29 Jul 2010 14:38:30
Bulgarian Interior Minister Denies Police Brutality
The honorable Interior Minister, of whom it is fair to say he has more political courage than brain capasity, has repeatedly presented horrendous accusations and "strong" evidence in high profile cases.
But even the Bulgarian Judiciary(whatever that might be) has found it difficult to prosecute or charge "the criminals"- and that is quite remarkable in itself.
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But he is back to business as usual in this case.Again he makes statements and announces strong evidence in the Parliament, accusing a man of being a pimp. Subsequently he denies strongly all wrongdoings
However corrupt and inefficient the judges and the courts are, only when charged and found guilty beyond doubt in a fair trial, then the Interior Minister is free to make the announcement.
But he has been cutting corners and violating civil rights since the first day in office, encouraged by his home-ground popularity and EU 's applauding.
Now the Interior Minister is a loose political cannon who is causing Bulgaria's reputation more international damage than the previous Government ever hoped to achieve through years of rampant corruption, fraud and organized crime!
No one is surprised by police brutality (look at Bulgaria's track record for the European Court of Human Rights), prostitution and organized crime in Bulgaria. The Ministers appearance in the Parliament was disgraceful and absurd - for any one who observed. In any other civilized EU country a Minister would have taken responsibility and resigned - but Bulgaria is not there yet.
But the Interior Minister is a public servant who has a public responsibility He is not supposed to be be a ex-police backyard bully who publicly justifies and encourages harassment, violence, professional misconduct and "street justice".
His appearance in the Parliament and in public has been disgraceful and absurd- for any one who observed. In any other civilized EU country a Minister would have taken the painful responsibility and resigned - but Bulgaria is not there yet.
The Interior Minister has introduced an inverted principle for justice- the police is innocent until found guilty by the court. Well, who is going to investigate the police ? The Judiciary is corrupt and inefficient and the prosecutors are wobbling - so who is back on the scene ?
