28/03/2024 The Ministry of Interior will guard all territorial divisions of the State Agency for Refugees

28/03/2024

The Ministry of Interior will guard all territorial divisions of the State Agency for Refugees. This is envisaged in the amendments to the Law on the Ministry of Interior adopted at second reading by the National Assembly, submitted by Boyko Borissov (GERB-UDF), Delyan Peevski (MRF), Raya Nazaryan (GERB-UDF), Anna Alexandrova (GERB-UDF), Temenuzhka Petkova (GERB-UDF), Yordan Tsonev (MRF), Hamid Hamid (MRF) and Erten Anisova (MRF).

The Parliament also adopted at second reading amendments to the Administration Act, which provide for an increase in the capacity of the Border Police by 1,264 posts for the protection of refugee centres and an increase in border security. These posts are necessary to ensure the normal functioning of all structural units, the authors of the amendments state.

The National Assembly unanimously adopted at first reading amendments to the Criminal Code (CC) related to the sexual abuse of children.

The amendments propose changes to the minimum and maximum penalties for sexual offences and child abuse, as well as the establishment of criminal offence in cases of sexual abuse where coercion, force or threat has been used to induce minors for sexual purposes. Provision is made for criminal legal protection for child victims of sexual abuse who have suffered significant psychological harm or whose moral or physical development has been affected.

It is proposed to exclude criminal prosecution by statute of limitations where it has not been instituted for 20 years for crimes committed against children, thus providing a longer period for the realization of the rights of the victim.

Parliament did not adopt at first reading a bill amending the Criminal Code submitted by MPs from the Revival PG. The project envisaged changing provisions related to poaching.