Bulgaria: Information on whether internal exile is still imposed for "legal infractions"
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 May 1994 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | BGR17011.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Bulgaria: Information on whether internal exile is still imposed for "legal infractions", 1 May 1994, BGR17011.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab028e.html [accessed 8 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to representatives of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee in Sofia, internal exile is currently not imposed in Bulgaria (16 May 1994; 17 May 1994). The representative of the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee indicated that under the communist regime, article 39 of the law on national police gave police the authority to internally exile individuals (ibid.). He indicated that this procedure could be undertaken without any court hearing or sentencing, and only one document had to be countersigned by the prosecutor (ibid.). He also said that article 39 was worded in very broad terms, thereby giving police much discretion in how it was applied (ibid.). The source indicated that some 800-900 Turks were placed in an Island on the Danube River under this article; many others, particularly political opponents to the regime, were also subjected to this treatment (ibid.).
The same source further indicated that article 39 was abolished in 1990, and that the new law on national police adopted in 1992 does not contain provisions on internal exile (ibid.). The source stated that there are still provisions for internal exile in the penal code, however in practice these are not applied (ibid.). He also stated that a new penal code is currently being drafted (ibid.).
This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Helsinki Committee, Sofia. 17 May 1994. Telephone interview with representative.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) Research Institute, Sofia. 16 May 1994. Telephone interview with representative.
