The acting Secretary General of the Ministry of Interior, Georgi Kandev, called on police officers across the country to remain on the ground during the upcoming holidays in order to counteract the increased vote trading. The unprecedented appeal to law enforcement agencies comes against the backdrop of a large-scale national campaign before the elections, during which backpacks with nearly 90,000 euros intended for the black election market were discovered in Plovdiv earlier today.
In a post on social networks, the chief secretary revealed that the criminal contingent plans to make the most of the holidays, relying on reduced institutional control.
Georgi Kandev: "The Ministry of Interior has information that those involved in vote buying are counting on the upcoming holidays. They believe that while people are celebrating and institutions are operating at lower speeds, they will be able to carry out their criminal activities unhindered."
He emphasized that these expectations of the offenders are wrong and that conversations have already been held with all directors of regional directorates in the country. Specific work schedules have been drawn up, ensuring that the operational capacity of the Ministry of Interior will not be reduced during the holidays, and the presence of uniformed personnel in the field will be significantly increased.
The call for mobilization coincides with the massive checks ordered by the acting Minister of the Interior Emil Dechev in the weeks before the elections. So far, the police have opened dozens of pre-trial proceedings related to crimes against the political rights of citizens, and the scale of the seized funds is growing.
The tension escalated further today after law enforcement officers in Plovdiv confiscated an unprecedented amount of cash. Backpacks stuffed with tens of thousands of euros, which had already been distributed in envelopes for distribution in exchange for votes, were discovered. Two weeks ago, a similar operation in Burgas also ended with a series of arrests and the discovery of secret lists with personal data of voters.
Georgi Kandev: "We will not allow the holidays to be used as a cover for crimes against democracy."
The Secretary General of the Ministry of Internal Affairs also appealed to citizens to report any suspicion of financial stimulation during the election process, ending his address directly to the uniformed officers.
Georgi Kandev: "Colleagues, don't go home! Go out!"