Bulgaria’s Chief Prosecutor Seeks Lifting of Immunity of MP Dimitar Avramov

Bulgaria’s Chief Prosecutor Sotir Tsatsarov submitted a request to the National Assembly on 7th of June seeking to lift the immunity of an MP from the Movement of Rights and Freedoms, Dimitar Avramov. The request is related to penal proceedings against the MP, filed to Sofia City Prosecutor’s Office and Sofia City Court four years ago.

Following a one-year investigation, in August 2013, the prosecutor’s office took Dimitar Avramov to court for alleged corruption offence – trade in influence.

The charges against Dimitar Avramov were that in the period 06.07.2012 - 17.07.2012, in the citeis of Vratsa, Pleven, Montana, supported by his acomplice Metodi Petkov, in the conditions of a continuous crime, Avramov had requested BGN 50 000 - 60 000 and received BGN 100 000, which he shouldn’t have received, by a trader in order to exert influence on the decision of the Director of the Regional Directorate "Agriculture" of Montana in connection with her office - a crime under Art. 304b (1) of the Penal Code in the case of art. 26 para 1 of the Criminal Code and in connection with Art. 20 para 2 of the Criminal Code.

On 29.06.2016. Sofia City Court acquitted Avramov and the alleged accomplice Petkov. Under a protest by Sofia City Public Prosecutor’s Office, Sofia Court of Appeal overturned the verdict and returned the case to Sofia City Court again. The proceedings have been currently suspended (by order of 15.05.2017), as the defendant Dimitar Avramov was elected Member of the 44th National Assembly and acquired immunity.

The Chief Prosecutor has requested permission to continue the criminal proceedings against the MP.