The political party “Velichie”, represented in the 51st National Assembly, has expressed in a statement to the media its concern over systematic institutional pressure and political persecution to which it claims to be subjected.

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has been notified, with a request for an international investigation and monitoring of the actions of the Bulgarian parliament.

It is stated that representatives of law enforcement agencies allegedly attempted to pressure the chairman of the parliamentary group, Ivelin Mihaylov, insisting that the party support a political configuration ensuring a controlled majority in the National Assembly. After a categorical refusal to participate in such a deal, threats of false accusations and arrests of his associates and party members reportedly followed.

Two days later, during a press conference organised by a representative of the MECH party in the National Assembly, illegally obtained election documents containing the personal data of MPs from “Velichie” were distributed. The event was used to sustain insinuations against the party and to call for termination of parliamentary mandates, in violation of the Constitution and parliamentary rules.

At present, a coordinated attack is being observed, comprising pressure from state institutions, unlawful use of electoral materials, media disinformation, and attempts to deprive the party of its right to participate in the oversight mechanisms of the electoral process. This attack is accompanied by the silence of national media, which refuse to cover “Velichie’s” positions under the pretext of a “lack of public interest” - a fact the party defines as a form of political censorship.

It is recalled that during the local elections in Pazardzhik, party representatives uncovered vote-buying schemes, in which the detained individuals were released after thirty minutes, while witnesses from the party were interrogated for hours. This case is cited as an example of the double standard of institutions that remain inactive toward real crimes but exert pressure on citizens who fight for a fair vote.

The current situation is defined as a test for the resilience of Bulgarian democracy, which must prove that it can ensure equality among political forces, protection of human rights, and the rule of law.

The statement concludes:

“We, from the party Velichie, declare our determination to continue defending the independence of parliamentarism, the integrity of the electoral process, and the citizens’ right to justice and transparency, regardless of the attempts at repression against us.”