Bulgaria's Ex-VP Defends His Generous Pardoning of Felons

ulgaria's former President, Georgi Parvanov (l) and his Deputy, Angel Marin. Photo by Sofia Photo Agency

Bulgaria's former Vice President Angel Marin who controversially pardoned a large number of high-profile felons during his two terms in office, has reiterated that he sees nothing wrong in his actions.

In an interview for the bTV private channel on Monday, Marin declared that he supported the idea of increased media publicity when it comes to all pardoning documents.

The former Vice President pointed out that he has put "huge efforts" over the years in tackling each and every pardoning request in an unbiased way. He claimed that his actions saved many drug users, since "drugs are often being smuggled in jails."

Angel Marin further emphasized the correctional function of prisons as a reason for his generous pardoning policy.

During his 10 years in office, Marin worked actively in order to pardon convicted felons, it recently emerged.  The former VP even pardoned a convicted drug dealer before his sentenced was enforced.

A total of 533 convicted felons were pardoned by Marin during his two terms in office, including many murderers.

It emerged Friday that Angel Marin may have been "illegal" as Vice President during the second term of Bulgaria's President, Georgi Parvanov, who left office a week days ago because Parvanov failed to issue a decree authorizing the mandate of the Vice President from 2007 to 2012.

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