Bulgaria Police Brutality Case May Go to Strasbourg

The acquittal verdict issued by Bulgaria`s Supreme Court of Cassation on the "Chorata" police brutality case may go to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. Photo by BGNES

Bulgaria's high-profile police brutality case for the murder of Angel Dimitrov aka Chorata may be taken to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg with the agreement of the victim's relatives, said lawyer Vasil Vasilev.

Vasilev, speaking on behalf of Chorata's family, said there were legal grounds to refer the matter to the ECHR and that this was the only proper response to the ruling of the Supreme Court of Cassation (VKS) which fully acquits the five defendants.

"What happened only confirmed the fact that there are two judicial systems operating in Bulgaria, one of which is for policemen and prosecutors", Vasilev stated.

On June 09,VKS conclusively acquitted the five policemen charged with the murder of Angel Dimitrov-Chorata on November 10, 2005, during the specialized police operation codenamed "Respect" in Blagoevgrad.

The decision of the VKS, which comes after 6 years of protracted court battles, can not be appealed.

Prior to the June 09 verdict, Bulgaria's Military Appellate Court issued two rulings on the case, the first one involving 18 years behind bars for Major Miroslav Pisov and 16 years in jail for the other four, captain Ivo Ivanov, chief-lieutenant Boris Mehandzhijski, and sergeants Georgi Kalinkov and Yanko Grahovski, and the second, revised verdict envisaging 9 years behind bars for Pisov and 8 years in prison for the other anti-mafia police officers.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!