Anti-Corruption Pressure Group (2001-2002)

The project aimed at setting up an Anti-Corruption Pressure Group, mediating between the media and NGOs, on the one hand, and the competent state institutions, on the other, and articulating in a more distinct and unequivocal way the public opinion on the corruption issue in the Bulgarian society.

The project implementation mechanism included: 1) Media monitoring by means of registration cards which allowed prompt generalization and comparison of findings by unified criteria, offered an accurate picture of media coverage of corruption, and outlined trends which were the most frequent spheres of corrupt practices; 2) Legal analysis of journalistic materials suggesting or claiming to reveal concrete facts about acts of corruption, and 3) Group activities which included referring to cases of committed offences of corruption, reported in the Bulgarian press and electronic media, which contain enough evidence of corruption, as defined in the Penal Code.

As a result of the group activities, 88 cases were referred to the prosecuting magistracy, of which: preliminary investigation were launched on 74; decrees refusing to launch preliminary proceedings were issued on 9 and the cases were dropped, and 7 were found to be subject to pending and overdue investigation.

Тhe concrete work and achieved results proved the effectiveness of the mechanism of pro-active civic pressure, chosen by the Group and applied in Bulgaria for the first time. The Group’s work and innovative approach in combating corruption in Bulgaria enjoyed a wide support of the media, NGOs and the judiciary in Bulgaria, as well as practical support by the Supreme Cassation Prosecution Office.

Presently the Group is proceeding with its work.