A police operation is now underway in Burgas to counter vote buying.
A total of 17 addresses in the Gorno Ezerovo district were checked, 9 persons were detained and 7 pre-trial proceedings were initiated.
More details were given at an extraordinary briefing by prosecutor Maria Markova, administrative head of the District Prosecutor’s Office – Burgas, and senior commissioner Emil Pavlov, director of the ODMVR-Burgas.
„At this moment, 25 reports concerning the upcoming elections have been received in ODMVR-Burgas. Those for neighborhoods with a predominant Roma population prevail. They refer to lists being drawn up and for whom the people should vote in them” explained Senior Commissioner Pavlov.
The operation continues at this moment, and it is not excluded that there may be more detainees.
The buy-not-vote schemes are familiar – debt forgiveness and cash offers. The price of one vote now ranges between 50 and 100 BGN.
“The district prosecutor’s office is monitoring 7 pre-trial proceedings, formed by the procedural and investigative actions carried out in the district of Gorno Ezerovo. An analysis of the collected evidence is pending and, if there is enough evidence, charges will be filed. Lists of names have been found for which there is evidence that they will be offered financial rewards to vote for a particular party or candidate” said prosecutor Markova.
She explained that the possible sentences for the detainees are from 1 to 6 years in prison.
Among those arrested, there are none who have previous offenses related to vote buying.
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