Chief Prosecutor refers to Central Election Commission to seek lifting the immunity of a candidate MP

Bulgaria’s Chief Prosecutor, Ivan Geshev, on July 7, submitted a motivated request to the Central Election Commission for granting permission to prosecute Ts.G. - a candidate for Member of Parliament in the parliamentary elections, scheduled for July 11,2021.

The pre-trial proceedings were initiated by the district directorate of the Ministry of Interior in Bourgas under Art. 212 para. 2 of the Penal Procedure Code and is under the direction and supervision of the Sofia City Prosecutor's Office.

In the course of the investigation, witnesses were interviewed, including before a judge, material evidence was gathered, searches and seizures were carried out at several addresses and relevant documents were attached.

The evidence gathered is sufficient by virtue of Art. 219, para. 1 of the Penal Procedure Code for pressing charges for a crime under Art. 167, para. 2 of the Penal Code against TsG., who on 29 June,2021 in the village of Marinka, municipality of Bourgas, gave economic benefits to four persons in order to persuade them to exercise their right to vote in favour of a particular candidate and coalition in the elections for the 46th National Assembly.

The penalty provided for by the law under Art. 167, para. 2 of the Penal Code is from one to six years of imprisonment and a fine from 10,000 to 20,000 BGN.