The start date of the communist repressions in Bulgaria caused a heated debate in parliament Friday afternoon as the socialist-led majority rejected proposed amendments to the respective piece of legislation.

The parliament approved on second reading the changes in the Political and Civic Rehabilitation of Repressed Persons Act with the votes of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (successor of the former communist party), and of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (the ethnic Turkish minority party).

The start date of the political repressions in Bulgaria, however, remained September 12, 1944, despite proposal by MP Mincho Spasov from the National Movement for Stability and Progress to change the date to September 9, 1944 - the day of the leftist coup in Bulgaria.

According to Spasov, the legal and historical beginning of the communist regime in Bulgaria was on September 9.

"This is a blatant violation of the rights of the innocent victims killed between September 9 and 12 in 1944, and of their successors. These victims are not equal footing with those killed by the People's Court after September 12, 1944. This is unacceptable and unjust," Spasov declared.

After the proposal for changing the start date of the repressions was rejected, several MPs from the rightist opposition they would refer the matter to EU institutions.

"The Bulgarian Socialist Party divided the murderers in two groups - good ones and bad ones, the good ones acted before September 12, 1944", said MP Ivan Ivanov from the Democrats for Strong Bulgaria party.

MP Ivan Sotirov from the Union of Democratic Forces described the case as "an act of disgrace".

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