The Civic Association "Green Youth" demands a pardon for the former mayor of the Sofia district "Mladost" Desislava Ivancheva, convicted of bribery, in an open letter to the head of state Rumen Radev and Vice President Iliana Yotova. The organization is outraged that the consideration of Ivancheva's pardon request has not been completed for three years.
Here is what the letter says:
Dear Ms. Yotova,
We from the Civic Association "Green Youth" We express our categorical position regarding the three-year-old pending consideration of Ms. Desislava Ivancheva's pardon application. MRS. IOTOVA, STOP THE “REPAIR“ OF DESI IVANCHEVA! THE PRISON REPAIRED WHAT IT COULD IN SO MANY YEARS!
For 7 years, institutions, judges, prosecutors have been fabricating and fabricating evidence, facts, data to prove her guilt, to keep her imprisoned, locked up, shackled. Ms. Yotova, now you have the unique opportunity to be a representative of the first institution and the person who will seek evidence for her pardon and release. This is a chance to prove that the presidency is a counterpoint to the rotten institutionality!
We are writing this letter publicly in connection with your words to the media for those unfamiliar: “Whether the former mayor of the capital's "Mladost" district, Desislava Ivancheva, who is serving a six-year sentence, will be pardoned, will also depend on the assessment from the women's prison in Sliven. Ms. Yotova told journalists that her administration still has no decision on the matter.
"We are yet to consider this. We have signals from several non-governmental organizations. This process has lasted for a long time here as well. For us, one of the most important arguments is the assessment given by the place where the sentence is being served. We are currently waiting for a new assessment, we will assess it," said the vice president.“ (https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1DaGBGz5Eg/)
In this regard, we also allow ourselves to respond to you publicly. We have studied and recall what your powers are and that we believe that the Commission on Pardons to the President of the Republic of Bulgaria, led by you, is trying to duplicate the judicial ones.
We write to you with growing concern and deep disappointment at the delay and bureaucratic attitude that the administration of the presidential institution demonstrates in this case with a clearly expressed humanitarian and social charge.
Ms. Ivancheva is serving an effective sentence under conditions that lead to a serious deterioration of her health and emotional state. During this period:
Her minor child is left without maternal care after being taken away from her nursing mother;
Her 83-year-old mother, with an effort of will and her last strength, takes on the overwhelming responsibility of raising her grandson;
The treatment of Ivancheva in places of deprivation of liberty is characterized by inhumane treatment, including denial of timely medical treatment, threats, discrimination and social isolation.
We know that you yourself link your decision to the assessment of the Women's Prison in Sliven. But what objectivity can be expected from an institution against which Ms. Ivancheva is conducting 2 cases for lack of treatment, as well as for cruel treatment, inhuman treatment and torture? Do you think that the director of Auschwitz would give a positive opinion on the rehabilitation of a concentration camp inmate? And why is a different result expected if the same reasons have already been rewritten and rejected by two judicial instances? Isn't the role of the Pardons Commission reduced to an administrative transfer of responsibility, instead of an independent moral judgment?
According to Decision No. 6 of April 11, 2012 under Case No. 3/2012 of the Constitutional Court, pardon:
Is an expression of mercy, based solely on the moral judgment of the President or Vice President;
Is not subject to binding opinions of prison administrations;
Does not require motives or evidence of "reform". (But if the assessment of Ms. Desislava Ivancheva's correction is important, it must be made by an independent and objective expert.);
It cannot be limited by legislative acts or administrative instructions;
It enters into force upon signing the decree and is not subject to withdrawal.
Dear Ms. Yotova,
We are writing to you not only as citizens, but also as people deeply affected by this injustice. We do not want Desi Ivancheva to be "corrected" through harassment, deprivation and administrative arbitrariness. We want her to be released so that she can take care of her son, her sick mother, and herself. You can make this possible.
We believe that the refusal to act in this case is a refusal of humanity. And the Pardon Commission, supported by Bulgarian taxpayers' money, must act in the interest of society, and not copy decisions of other institutions. If it is unable to demonstrate humanity and independence, it is better for the funds for its activities to be directed to something truly useful - for example, the purchase of children's ambulances or the construction of a National Children's Hospital.
Your decision will be a symbol not only of political will, but also of whether the presidential institution stands on the side of the person. The pardon of Mrs. Ivancheva will be a clear signal to the entire society that the Bulgarian state can show mercy when justice has already been exhausted, and the consequences for the family outweigh any sense of the remainder of the punishment.
We clearly understand, Mrs. Yotova, that in you lies the key not only to Ivancheva's fate but also to your political career - regarding your decision to pardon Desislava Ivancheva, you will win or lose tens of thousands of voters on your way to the presidential seat. This is the truth! But we are convinced that you will win the sympathy of thousands of people who consider her innocent, and those who will not like an act of humanity towards Desi Ivancheva are not your electorate.
Act humanely, Ms. Yotova. Show the courage to make an independent, humane and moral decision. Show that you have the strength to stand up against fear, against political pressure and against the fear of the “reaction“ of those who do not want the pardon. Because in the end, the voices of justice will remain with you. And the child waiting for his mother and the old woman praying for her daughter will remember this forever.
Sincerely,
Civil Association “Green Youth“