Former Minister Sues Bulgaria in Strasbourg over "Brutal Arrest"

Bulgarian police arrested former defence minister Nikolay Tsonev on corruption charges on April 1. Photo by Interior Ministry

Former Defence Minister Nikolay Tsonev has decided to sue the Bulgarian state in Strasbourg, complaining of “the humiliating attitude” of the police during his arrest in April this year.

In the complaint, submitted to the European Court of Human Rights, Tsonev’s lawyer Vassil Vassilev points out that the prosecutor’s office has refused to launch legal proceedings against Sofia Deputy Prosecutor Roman Vassilev, whose allegedly aggressive behavior during the arrest of the former defense minister has triggered a wave of criticism.

The complaint says that high-ranking officials, including top city prosecutors, the prime minister and the interior minister, have all violated the basic principle of the presumption of innocence by showing no doubt that Tsonev is guilty.

Bulgarian police arrested former defence minister Nikolay Tsonev on corruption charges on April 1.

The footage of Tsonev’s arrest released by the Interior Ministry showed Roman Vasilev telling the former minister, “For me, you are a criminal! As a criminal, kneel down on the floor!”, while he is being handcuffed by masked policemen.

Tsonev is suspected of offering a EUR 60,000 bribe to an official investigating a case against him. Another former high-ranking official of the ministry and a judge were also arrested in connection with the case.

Tsonev was a member of the Socialist-led government swept from power in the July elections after a series of corruption scandals. He was under investigation in relation to murky deals, such as a fibre-optic cable project worth EUR 60 M.

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