Bulgaria: Information on the relationship between organized crime and the police and on whether there have been any convictions of police officers on corruption charges
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 February 1995 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | BGR19777.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Bulgaria: Information on the relationship between organized crime and the police and on whether there have been any convictions of police officers on corruption charges, 1 February 1995, BGR19777.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab9770.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Please find attached media reports on crime, particularly organized crime in Bulgaria. The 10 February 1995 Reuters report refer to the intention of Bulgaria's new socialist government to combat organized crime in Bulgaria. President Zhelyu Zhelev referred not only to "ordinary street crime but also organised crime, security firms, mafia and corruption within the state apparatus".
According to a representative of the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights in Sofia (23 Feb. 1995) and to the director of the Helsinki Committee in Sofia (24 Feb. 1995), charges of corruption brought were brought against the police and the investigation service in the past years. Both sources indicated that there were dismissals of police officers and of investigators magistrate on the ground of corruption (ibid.). The director of the Helsinki Committee also mentioned that there were a few convictions of police officers and of investigators magistrates (24 Feb. 1995). He added that these corruption charges are mainly related to money given to policemen and to investigators magistrates in exchange for the release of criminals (ibid.). Both sources reported that, according to information published in several Sofia daily papers on 23 February 1995, checks into corruption, and other activities, are being conducted in five regional directorates of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which oversees the police (23 Feb. 1995; 24 Feb. 1995).
This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Helsinki Committee, Sofia. 24 February 1995. Telephone interview with representative.
International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF), Sofia. 23 February 1995. Telephone interview with representative.
Reuters. 10 February 1995. BC Cycle. Philippa Fletcher. "Bulgaria Threatened with Mafia Rule - President." (NEXIS)
Attachments
Agence France Presse (AFP). 20 January 1995. "Surge in Organised Crime in Bulgaria: Police." (NEXIS)
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 28 July 1994. "Police Chief Notes Rise in Organised Crime." (NEXIS)
Reuters. 10 February 1995. BC Cycle. Philippa Fletcher. "Bulgaria Threatened with Mafia Rule - President." (NEXIS)
_____. 15 December 1994. BC Cycle. Elisaveta Konstantinova. "Premier Says Mafia Entrenched in Bulgarian State." (NEXIS)
_____. 21 October 1994. BC Cycle. "Bulgaria Declares War on Organised Crime." (NEXIS)