25.11.2019Civic Society strongly condemns Valery Simeonov's election as Deputy Chair of the National Assembly
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Chairman of the 44th National Assembly
Mrs. Tsveta Karayancheva
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Committee chairs
Dear ladies and gentlemen!
Civic order and democratic values are put at an unprecedented risk by the election of Valery Simeonov as Deputy Chair of the National Assembly. It is absolutely unacceptable in the years prior to the expiration of the term of this parliament, Simeonov to occupy the office of one of the most dignified Bulgarians, protecting the Jews from their deportation in 1943 - Dimitar Peshev.
We, the leaders of minority advocacy organizations, organizations of persons with disabilities, as well as LGBTI communities and organizations fighting against hate speech, have repeatedly witnessed the former Deputy Prime Minister's demeanor, racist and discriminatory language. In 2017, Valery Simeonov was sentenced at first instance by the Burgas District Court for his anti-Roma hate speech as a Member of Parliament at the National Assembly on December 17, 2014. We have also warned our colleagues from the international community about the irreversible steps of power in Bulgaria putting our country beyond the liberal and democratic spirit of the European Union.
Minority rights and democracy are inseparably linked. This choice is a huge and shameful mistake and will have profound moral consequences.
We call for the immediate launch of the procedure for the early release of Valery Simeonov, as Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, and thus to give a clear signal that we are part of a society that places social solidarity and trust as a strategic public value.
Signed:
Juliana Metodieva, President of the Marginalia Association
Rumen Petrov, Member of the Board of Directors of the Marginalia Association
Assoc. Prof. Alexander Oscar, Chairman of OJB Shalom
Deyan Kolev, Chairman of Amalipe Center
Dimitrina Petrova, BOLD
Lawyer Daniela Mihailova, Equal Opportunities Initiative Association
Ognyan Isaev, a journalist who judges Valery Simeonov in the European Court of Human Rights
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