September 25th, 2008

On September 22nd in Sofia journalist Ognyan Stefanov was brutally beaten. The journalist has suffered disabling injuries and is in critical condition. In connection with this violent and ferocious act the National Assembly of Bulgaria has adopted the following Declaration:

1. NA denounces decisively this brutal assault upon a Bulgarian journalist and condemns all violations of the freedom of speech regardless of their guise.

2. Expresses its will to exercise the power entrusted to the National Assembly in order to rebuff by all possible means any attempts to undermine the groundwork of democracy and rule of law in the country.

3. Insists that the Ministry of Interior and the State Agency for National Security should undertake urgent measures for the fastest detection of the masterminds and perpetrators of the crime. It also urges the two institutions to inform the NA about the results of the investigation within a week.

4. The National Assembly expresses its full solidarity with the whole journalistic community and appeals to them to oppose in concert any attempts on the freedom of speech in our country.