Case off Base

Novinite Insider » EDITORIAL | April 28, 2006, Friday // 00:00
Case off Base Photo by Yuliana Nikolova (Sofia News Agency)

By Milena Hristova

Condoleezza Rice may be used to protests and setbacks, dogging her at almost every stop, but the earthquake that shook her in Bulgaria can hardly be said to be a metaphor for her visit here. It was another foreigner, of a much lower rank, who was really shaken by what made news in Sofia at the end of the week. A foreigner, whose country gives every indication to turn his trial into a big political issue and elevate him to a hostage, even a martyr. The Supreme Court decision to leave Liverpool fan Michael Shields behind bars was expected. But hardly had anyone expected the fallout, the most striking of which were a British Euro MP claim that Bulgaria's EU accession is now at stake. Or the plea to the House of Commons to pressurise Bulgarians and get a retrial. Or the determination with which the British press defended Shields (something which, for good or bad, one could never see if roles were reversed and a Bulgarian was accused of nearly killing a Briton by a British court). So it is not only because the story is not about bases, that I feel tempted to call it off base. Hope the proposed probes and campaigns set it right and revive the trust in Bulgaria's judiciary.

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