In connection with a video of police brutality currently circulating on social media, the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee (BHC) urged the Bulgarian Prosecutor's Office to promptly and impartially investigate this flagrant crime committed by law enforcement officials before the eyes of passers-by.

The video shows two police officers arresting a man in broad daylight on a busy street in the Bulgarian town of Stara Zagora. After knocking the man on his back, one of the officers restrains him while the other starts hitting him, even though he is not resisting the arrest.

The officers who did this were obviously under the impression that such acts will remain unpunished.

Many police brutality cases

BHC recalls that for the 12 years between 1998 and 2010, the European Court of Human Rights issued 27 judgments against Bulgaria in 26 cases about police brutality. On average, this was more than two judgments per year against the country.

Because of insufficient evidence, in two of the cases the court failed to establish that the police undoubtedly committed the acts violence, but condemned the state for inadequate investigations into the beatings. In another case, the court found no serious abuse, but again condemned Bulgaria because of the absolute refusal to investigate the incident.

In all other cases, Bulgaria was condemned because of the brutality of the police and the subsequent inadequate investigations or proceedings, which failed to effectively protect the people. BHC further recalls that according to the Ministry of the Interior's laws on the use of weapons, physical force by the police is only allowed when "absolutely necessary" for the performance of their duties.