The chairman of the parliamentary commission investigating the police violence and wiretapping of protesting citizens Nikolay Hadjigenov filed a complaint European Prosecutor General Laura Koveshi, Chair of the Committee LIBE and other European institutions and human rights organizations, in connection with Prosecutor Veronika Trifonova, currently a delegated European Prosecutor from Bulgaria’s quota, which has passed unprecedented police violence, the Poison Trio announced.
The footage from security cameras under the columns of the Council of Ministers was sealed the shameful beating of peacefully protesting young people on the evening of 10 July 2020 covered by the Bulgarian authorities for almost 13 months and removed by the commission, toured all media and social networks in the country and shook the whole society, they pointed out.
“Despite the numerous testimonies and evidence of this violence, Trifonova has terminated the case file due to lack of crime. This is a form of complicity in a crime against justice”, said MP Nikolay Hadjigenov, who is also a lawyer for some of the young people injured in the beating.
Letters have been sent to the European Attorney General, Ms Laura Koveshi; The President of the LIBE Commission, Mr Juan Fernando Lopez Aguilar, Commissioner for Human Rights – Ms Michelle Bachelet Heria, General Secretary of the Council of Europe – Ms Maria Pejcinovic – Buric, EC Vice President for Values and Transparency – Ms. Vera Yourova, Commissioner for Justice – Mr Didier Reynders and Ms Salla Saastamoinen – Director General of Justice and Consumers.
Here is the full text of the letters sent:
“As chairman of the temporary commission for investigation of facts and circumstances in the use of tear gas, use of force and aids by the Ministry of Interior, committed on July 10 and September 2, 2020 against protesting citizens, as well as for investigation of facts and circumstances, related to the application of special intelligence means to protesting citizens, opposition leaders and members of political parties from the opposition, I have a mandate to present to you the created extremely unpleasant situation for Bulgaria. In the last week, on Friday, August 13, 2021, the temporary commission was provided by the NSO with camera footage of some of the most shameful beatings of young people, peaceful protesters, who were beaten and humiliated by police.
What is even more disturbing is that the recordings from the NSO cameras were not for us
provided for 13 months, despite the repeated attempts I made to get them. The head of the NSO – Gen. Emil Tonev lied to two different court panels when they requested the recordings from the cameras, answering that they did not exist. In view of the events, the court ruled that all arrests of victims of police arbitrariness were illegal.
An extraordinary plenary sitting of the National Assembly was held on August 17, 2021, with a hearing of the Minister of the Interior Boyko Rashkov. It became clear that Veronika Trifonova, who is currently elected European Delegated Prosecutor, in her capacity as supervising prosecutor in the Sofia District Prosecutor’s Office, refused to initiate pre-trial proceedings, thus empathizing with the extremely bad practice of the Bulgarian Prosecutor’s Office, represented by Ivan Geshev.
Ms. Trifonova terminated the case file for violence due to lack of crime, which is a form of complicity in a crime against justice.
I believe that this deliberate act is not a professional performance of duties, but rather shows a commitment to the practices of the government of former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and his law enforcement agencies. This differs drastically from the notion of an independent prosecution and the separation of powers. The presence of Veronika Trifonova as a delegated European Prosecutor calls into question the reputation of the European Commission of Justice (EC – Justice), as it is in direct conflict with the provisions of Council Regulation 2017/1939 on the European Prosecutor’s Office. In particular, Prosecutor Trifonova is incompatible with the basic principles of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, creating reasonable doubts about her ability to work impartially, according to the activities of the EC. – Justice to protect the rule of law, in relation to Article 5 (2). In addition, this is contrary to the ability of the EC-Justice to defend the basic principles of the European Convention on Human Rights, in relation to Article 4: „No one shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment“ and Article 12 (1): „Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and to freedom of association at all levels, in particular in the fields of political, trade union or civil association, including the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.“
For me, as chairman of the temporary parliamentary committee, longtime criminal lawyer, active citizen, fighting for human rights, it is completely illogical for a reputation problem for the Bulgarian prosecutor’s office to become one for the EC – Justice, which we all rely on to fulfill such an important its mission as an independent body of the European Union responsible for the promotion and protection of all human rights. I believe that your impartiality and strong sense of protection of human rights will support the battle of Bulgarian citizens for the rule of law and a European future, through highly trusted institutions.”
