Humbled Bulgaria Police Boss Keeps Job, Vows to Learn

Politics » DOMESTIC | January 26, 2012, Thursday // 20:32
Bulgaria: Humbled Bulgaria Police Boss Keeps Job, Vows to Learn Bulgarian Ministry of Interior Kalin Georgiev (L) speaks after meeting PM Boyko Borisov (background) Thursday evening. Photo by BGNES

Bulgarian Interior Ministry Chief Secretary Kalin Georgiev will keep his office, it became clear following earlier reports he has filed his resignation with PM Boyko Borisov.

The resignation reports came Thursday after a fresh case of police brutality over the weekend raised calls from rights activists and opposition for resignations within the Ministry of Interior.

Thursday Georgiev and Borisov met to discuss the matter, and after the meeting it was announced that Georgiev will continue to serve as the Bulgarian police's Chief Secreatary.

It is not yet clear whether he had actually filed his resignation, as after the meeting PM Borisov, as quoted by the Focus Information Agency, said that no resignations of senior police officials had been filed with him.

"We talked about professional matters," said Borisov, adding "It is all too easy to ask for the resignation of the Chief Secretary or even the Minister of Interior."

The Bulgarian PM also commended the work of the police in Thursday's special operation codenamed RALICA, in which an extortion group was arrested.

Earlier Borisov, who had resisted calls to fire senior police officials or Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov, had said that Bulgarian police "need to forget all methods involving undue brutality."

"If needed, we'll have to learn ethics, manners, tactics, and all methods needed for police activities," said Chief Secretary Kalin Georgiev upon emerging from the meeting with the PM.

Georgiev explained the irregularities in the work of the Bulgarian police with the fact that, according to him, each Bulgarian government has removed important police directors, including ones of lower ranks, which has resulted in a loss of tradition.

Saturday's case of police brutality involved dozens of heavily armed elite police officers violently arresting a married couple, only to find 5 packs of contraband cigarettes at their home.

The case gained notoriety due to the fact that the family's daughter was among the organizers of a Facebook group named "I Shall Not Vote for Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov and his GERB Party."

Both leftist and rightist opposition parties have requested the resignation of Minister of Interior Tsvetan Tsvetanov, with the Bulgarian Socialist Party announcing it will initiate a no-confidence vote for the Borisov cabinet over systematic failure in the area of security.

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Tags: special operation, police, extortion, Boyko Borisov, Kalin Georgiev, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, police brutality, Facebook, Bulgarian Socialist Party

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