After a review and analysis of the regulatory framework in the Ministry of Interior, the Minister of Interior Daniel Mitov ordered the preparation of a draft for a new Regulation on the conditions and procedure for implementing the protection of persons. For this purpose, a working group has already been established under the leadership of the Deputy Minister of Interior Toni Todorov to prepare the draft.
In the system of regulatory acts of the Republic of Bulgaria, the protection of endangered persons is regulated at two levels - legally in the Law on the Interior (Art. 14, para. 2, item 10 and para. 4), and by-laws in the Regulations on the Organization and Activities of the Ministry of Interior (Art. 37b, para. 2, item 12) and in the Regulation on the Conditions and Procedure for Implementing the Protection of Persons. Under the terms and conditions of the Regulation, protection is also provided to family members of the threatened person, if ordered by a judge or prosecutor, and the employees of the Ministry of Interior implement the issued orders.
The analysis carried out has found serious deficiencies in the regulatory framework and the lack of a restrictive regime regarding the movement and stay in public places of the protected persons with a view to their own security. The result is numerous cases in recent years in which the Ministry of Interior spends state resources in an inappropriate manner.
Despite their threat, the protected persons under this order enjoy all civil and human rights, including the right to free movement. The regulatory framework does not contain any restrictions on the right to movement of the protected person, which is a serious regulatory omission. There are no restrictions on the type, model and brand of the vehicle used.
Sound and light signaling for the purposes of protecting individuals is used at the discretion of the security team, during the performance of its duties, and this is not a violation of the prescribed rules.
Minister Mitov will also initiate a dialogue with other competent institutions such as the Ministry of Justice and others, in order to even more clearly regulate the order for protecting endangered individuals.