"We knew that Dr. Hasardjiev had personal problems. We had been trying to help him for a long time. But he did not want to seek psychological or any kind of help. He gradually abdicated from his work in the organization, did not answer his phone". This was told to the Bulgarian National Radio by Vladislava Tsolova, former chairwoman of the Board of the National Patient Organization, after Dr. Stanimir Hasardjiev and three other people were charged with a crime related to coercion, in which a weapon was used.
The Sofia District Court imposed a preventive measure on Hasardjiev "detention in custody". It came to this after a 20-year-old boy reported that he was being held by four people in an apartment in the capital's "Dianabad" district. In addition to Dr. Hasardjiev, the company includes actor Rosen Belov, a Greek model and a former soldier from the French Legion.
The investigating authorities have not come looking for us, Vladislava Tsolova told the program "Horizont do obed". She noted that Dr. Hasardjiev has helped many people: "We have seen him in another role."
On October 24, the patient organization issued a statement.
"Everyone is responsible for their own actions. Everything that happens to them is a result of their path to this point. Any generalization is wrong".
She is convinced that the integrity of patient organizations or the non-governmental sector should not be questioned.
Tsolova is counting on the investigative authorities to do their job. Radoslav Stoyanov, a human rights expert, expects the same:
"The central issue is to establish what the truth is and what the guilt is. Only the court can do that. Both Mr. Hasardzhiev and Mr. Belov, as well as the other two men, have not yet been convicted, they are accused. The attention that is being directed at this case is related to the fact that it involves five men and possible sexual violence from men to men. This is less common. Apart from that, there is nothing special in this case. But here there is an overactivity on the part of some media outlets that are looking for the scandalous".
He admits that there is a risk that this case will be used to discredit the LGBT community.
"And for excessive punishment by society towards it".
Stoyanov also commented on the position taken by the Union of Bulgarian Artists on the topic.
"The Union of Artists in Bulgaria opposes in the most categorical way any manifestations of violence and encroachment on human dignity and life. Such actions are incompatible with morality and ethics and cannot be tolerated, as they cause serious damage to both our profession and the entire cultural sector," the trade union said.
"The SBA's stance at this very moment is once again exploiting homophobia," he believes.
Radoslav Stoyanov is also convinced that the situation cannot be a reason to demand the resignation of the Minister of Culture.
"He is in no way complicit in what happened"
After the scandal with actor Rosen Belov broke out, "Vazrazhdane" demanded the resignation of Marian Bachev. Kostadinov's party is calling on the minister to resign due to failure to fulfill administrative duties and allegations of connection to a person accused of a criminal act.
In a post on social media, the Minister of Culture explained that actor Rosen Belov is on a civil contract and is not part of the management of his theater workshop.