A huge group of party members went to the Regional Police Station after the arrest of the head of the regional post office in Kardzhali. These are sympathizers of a parliamentaryly represented formation. They were led by the mayor of the city, who is also a candidate for MP. They tried to enter the Regional Police Station quite aggressively. Perhaps they wanted to take out their friend. This was said in the studio of “Hello, Bulgaria“ by the acting Minister of Internal Affairs Emil Dechev.
According to him, a file will be submitted to the prosecutor's office regarding the possible initiation of pre-trial proceedings for hooliganism. The reason is aggressive behavior towards police officers, including the mayor of Kardzhali.
We recall that on Wednesday evening the acting secretary general announced that the head of the Kardzhali Regional Post Office had been detained on suspicion of exerting pressure and unregulated political agitation. Dechev explained that aid was distributed by NGOs, explaining that it was thanks to a specific party and thus urging people to vote for it. “I would not like to mention its name so as not to influence the election process. After the elections, we will announce the ranking of the parties that bought the most votes. All those who commit crimes are treated equally. The Ministry of Internal Affairs has the same attitude towards every party“, Dechev assured.
According to the minister, there are a variety of ways in which attempts are made to commit election crimes. “People from the criminal contingent are used, with several convictions for various types of crimes. Very often they have nothing to do with the elections so far - rather convicted of drugs, theft, robbery. In addition to them, however, there are also those who have no registered criminal acts, but owe their positions to a given political force - mayors, their deputies, municipal councilors, even members of the candidate lists of a party. Through such people or through employees of forestry enterprises, who, for example, distribute firewood, the process of buying votes is carried out - through social benefits or for money in stores“, specified Dechev.
The Interior Minister noted that one of the goals of the Ministry of Interior is for people to realize that if they get involved in election crimes, there is a risk of being caught and tried for their actions. "I always emphasize that it is not enough for me for someone to be detained for 24 hours to announce that another police operation is being conducted. I want the collected materials to be "dressed" as suitable evidence, so that the prosecution has no doubts about the accusation," said Dechev.
He compared the data 24 days before the elections with the vote in 2024 - now the signals are 383 against 52. "This is 636% more. The society has much greater trust in the leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and files more signals. In October 2024, there were 27 pre-trial proceedings, now there are 115. There were 18 detainees, now there are 51 people. The warning protocols were 207, now - 679," summarized the Minister of Law and Order. He added that regarding the guarantors of the bought vote, SRCs are used when necessary.