Varna Prosecutors Firm on Keeping Murky MP Hopefuls behind Bars

The alleged criminal Vesselin Danov (left) and his son have been allowed to run for MPs in the 2009 elections. Photo by BGNES

The Varna Regional Prosecutor's Office decided Wednesday to keep behind bars Vesselin and Hristo Danovi, despite the fact that they will run for seats in Bulgaria's next parliament.

The two Municipal Councilmen from Bulgaria's Black Sea capital, Vesselin and Hristo, are a father and a son and have been in custody for almost a year over allegations of racketeering, enticement into prostitution and money laundering.

On Tuesday, the Varna Electoral Commission accepted their registration to run in the 2009 Parliamentary Elections, on the ticket of the Bulgarian Patriots Union party, effectively making them MP candidates.

The Danovi's defense council submitted Wednesday a request to revoke the permanent detention measure against the two over their run and their election campaign, but the Prosecutor's office rejected it.

The Prosecutors stated several motives for their decision:

Danovi have been officially registered as MP candidates. The Bulgarian Law bans arrests and trials of registered candidates, except in case when a grave crime has been committed prior to their registration. The two have already been charged with serious offenses and because of that they could not be released.

In addition, the Prosecutors stated that immunity is not automatically granted by an election registration and the two were not even actively campaigning now because the Law mandates that election campaigns begin 21 days before Election Day - on June 14, 2009 in the case of the upcoming elections.

Earlier Wednesday the Sofia City Court halted the case against the notorious former President of the CSKA football club, Alexander Tomov, who is also registered to run at the upcoming elections.

The other detainee, who made the decision to participate in the parliamentary elections in prison, the shady Dupnitsa businessman, Plamen Galev, is also remaining behind bars, awaiting the collection of the required 10 000 signatures to be registered as an independent candidate.

 

 

 

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