New reports are received against members of the Public council for the construction of the National Children's Hospital, NOVA reported. Earlier this year, the private company "Trade League" signals the DANS about the activities of the Council.
The first report was sent to DANS and all members of the Council were summoned for questioning. As a motive then, the senders say that he exceeded his authority by asking Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev to stop their investment intention. Just a few days ago, the prosecutor's office issued a decision - it will not initiate proceedings on the grounds that everyone has the right to free expression.
Following this development, NOVA is looking for people from the Council. They inform them that there are already new reports against two of them. This time submitted to the Anti-Corruption Commission. And relating to activities outside the work of the Council. However, who is the sender of the signals - it is still not clear.
June 2024. Nadezhda Tsekulova, lawyer Maria Sharkova and other members of the Public Council for the National Children's Hospital receive calls from DANS employees.
“A man should live well, one day he gets a call from DANS”, lawyer Sharkova wrote in a post on Facebook.
“I had to give explanations on a complaint filed against me by the "Commercial League" in connection with their currently postponed investment intention to create a multi-specialty hospital "Mom and I". This is intimidation," wrote Nadezhda Tsekulova in her personal profile on the social network.
After more than two months, the Sofia City Prosecutor's Office announced – will not initiate proceedings either on the report of the private company or on the one submitted by Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev, after the Council of Ministers first approved and then rejected the project to build a multi-specialty hospital for active treatment “Mama and I” - the city of Sofia.
„The first signal was filed by representatives of the trading company “Trade League – Global Pharmacy Center“ with allegations that representatives of the Public Council for the construction of the NDB with expressed positions endangered national security and committed a crime against the Republic. The main argument for ruling on a refusal is that the right to freedom of expression is a fundamental right and no one can be punished for their thoughts and, in particular, an opinion on a given public issue, states the opinion of the Sofia City Prosecutor's Office.
“This decision of the prosecutor's office is logical and this is the decision we expected. When checks are formed with the participation of multiple checking institutions based on insignificant and apparently untenable signals, this leads to intimidation,” said Nadezhda Tsekulova, a member of the Public Council for the National Children's Hospital.
The months of waiting are accompanied by new attacks.
„There was a series of paid publications from various media accusing us of hindering the development of modern health care, of wanting communism in children's health care,”, Tsekulova stressed. And he added: “Soon after that, lawyer Sharkova and I were called. I and the lawyers I am consulting with have made an attempt to request information about how many and what types of reports have been filed against me at the Sofia District Prosecutor's Office. But the answers we received do not give us certainty whether these are all the reports filed against us”.
In June, NOVA contacted the company for comment. In their arguments, they then state that they aim to completely discredit the Council, because “its members arrogantly and without any legal and factual basis simulated public pressure”.
They looked for them now – after the decision of the prosecutor's office, but refused to comment on what was happening. In a position next to NOVA, they state: “Dear Nova Television,
We do not comment on judicial and other judicial acts! All our rights are reserved and guaranteed by law.”.
They also did not explain whether they intend to appeal to the court and whether they have taken other actions towards the Public Council.