Bulgarian Ombudsman: Someone Must Be Jailed for Snooping

Society | April 17, 2013, Wednesday // 12:04
Bulgarian Ombudsman: Someone Must Be Jailed over Illegal Snooping: Bulgarian Ombudsman: Someone Must Be Jailed for Snooping Bulgaria's Ombudsman, Konstantin Penchev, photo by Bulfoto

Bulgaria's Ombudsman, Konstantin Penchev, is asking for a broader Court control on the permits for the use of special surveillance devices in the country.

"There must be changes and the Court should stop granting these permits as a village mayor would do," Penchev said Wednesday in an interview for Nova TV.

According to him, judges must have the right to refuse granting wiretap permits.

Penchev's comments came in the aftermath of the scandal known as "Bulgaria's Watergate," over allegations police and secret services have been spying illegally on wealthy businesspeople and senior politicians.

He further said the issue was within his authority as illegal eavesdropping was a violation of basic human rights.

The Ombudsman noted Bulgaria has been sentenced in the Human Rights Court in Strasbourg for excessive use of SRS, stressing this time the prosecution must go all the way to effective sentences, and not limit itself to just pointing at the culprits.

"I am sick and tired of 23 years of spying. Two people in jail, even just two people, would be a lesson to the rest. If this happens, the others would think twice when someone orders them to illegally snoop around. We also need to examine the legislation on SRS, as it is obvious it is flawed. We need civil control here as well," Penchev explained.

He noted that the above did not mean anyone meddling in the spying technology, but rather having stronger accountability of its use. Penchev stated the new Parliament must finally deal with the issue as the 41st General Assembly failed to do so.

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

Society » Be a reporter: Write and send your article
Tags: Ombudsman, Konstantin Penchev, wiretapping, spying, wiretapping, interior ministry, special surveillance devices, SRS

Advertisement
Advertisement
Bulgaria news Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) is unique with being a real time news provider in English that informs its readers about the latest Bulgarian news. The editorial staff also publishes a daily online newspaper "Sofia Morning News." Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) and Sofia Morning News publish the latest economic, political and cultural news that take place in Bulgaria. Foreign media analysis on Bulgaria and World News in Brief are also part of the web site and the online newspaper. News Bulgaria