Sun, Nov 22 2009

Member of Parliament given suspended sentence for paedophilia

Wed, Feb 18 2009 18:38 CET byPetar Kostadinov 858 Views 4 Comments
Member of Parliament given suspended sentence for paedophilia

Vladimir Kouzov

Photo: Assen Tonev

Independent MP Vladimir Kouzov was given a three-year suspended sentence for having had sexual contact with a minor, Bulgarian-language Dnevnik daily said on February 18 2009.

The sentence, handed down by the Supreme Court of Cassation (SCC), is not subject to appeal. Kouzov was initially sentenced to spend three years behind bars for having sexual contact with a 13-year-old boy in Sofia in 2001.

Kouzov asked the SCC to review his sentence, claiming that there had been a number of procedural breaches.

The SCC found that there was no evidence that "the homosexual relations had had a negative effect on the physical and mental condition and on the sexual capability of the victim".

Kouzov's clean record, education and his social activity also were taken into account in the court's ruling. The court said that since the offence was committed, Kouzov had not committed any other crimes and so there was no reason to jail him.

If he commits an offence in the next five years he would be sent to jail to serve his three year sentence.

Kouzov was elected to Parliament in June 2005 for the ultra-nationalist Ataka party. Later it turned out that he had an investigation pending against him. In 2006 Kouzov was expelled from Ataka and his immunity as an MP from prosecution was removed.

Comments

Anonymous Xgktmdts Wed, Jun 24 2009 06:44 CET

This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained .

Anonymous Tony Thu, Feb 19 2009 11:35 CET
Inappropriate comment?

What a disgrace.

Most of the outside world never get to see the true beauty of Bulgaria. What they do hear and read about is the foolishness that goes on at the higher levels of Bulgarian society.

How is Bulgaria ever going to taken serious on the world stage when they cannot resolve a simple open and shut case like this.

The man indulges in paedophilia, anywhere else in the developed world he goes to jail, he does not pass go and does not collect his 200 leva but as the saying goes "T.I.B" (this is Bulgaria.

It is a sad state of affairs.

Anonymous Smiley Thu, Feb 19 2009 10:34 CET
Inappropriate comment?

Why should MPs be immune from prosecution in any case. Are they not citizens of Bg like everyone else. Do the crime, do the time! Also, how come MPs manage to award themselves pay rises, but now cut the budgets of ministries, no pay rises for public sector staff etc. Obviously MPs are immune from the financial crisis as well. The rules and laws simply do not apply to MPs. What democracy?

Anonymous Smiley Thu, Feb 19 2009 10:30 CET
Inappropriate comment?

Another fine example of how the Bulgarian justice system just does not work!

Anonymous kenny Thu, Feb 19 2009 08:54 CET
Inappropriate comment?

Wow, is that all he gets? Time to bring in the sex tourist. Come to beautiful Bulgaria and have sex with children.

Write comment

Name:Comment:

Generate new code
Send your comment
Police charge 18 people over internet child pornography

Bulgarian police search 21 homes in the country as part of an international police operation against child pornography on the internet

MP sentenced for paedophilia expelled from Parliament

Vladimir Kouzov leaves Parliament two-and-a-half years after he was charged with paedophilia

More in this category

EC suing Bulgaria for Sofia waste disposal failure

The European Commission is taking Bulgaria to court for delays in providing Sofia with adequate waste disposal facilities.

US ambassador-designate Warlick addresses senate confirmation hearing

James Warlick is the spouse of Mary Warlick, director of the office of Russian affairs at the US state department, who has been nominated to serve as ambassador to Serbia

Bulgaria declares flu epidemic at an end

Bulgaria’s Health Ministry announced on November 20 2009 that the flu epidemic declared two weeks earlier is at an end as rates of infection decline. The announcement coincides with reports of two deaths from A (H1N1) flu in Bulgaria.

Bulgarian prosecutors to investigate Dogan’s real estate deals

Acting on allegations by Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria leader Ivan Kostov, prosecutors and Government officials are to probe deals by which Movement for Rights and Freedoms leader Ahmed Dogan acquired various properties.

Sofia prosecutors charge Bulgaria’s former defence minister Nikolai Tsonev

Prosecutors allege that a deal agreed by the former defence minister caused losses of 12.9 million leva.

© 2000-2009, Sofia Echo Media Ltd.

Web Design by RIZN

Sofia Echo Media is part of the Economedia Group.
The news and information content on this website is provided by our editorial team and is copyrighted. Any unauthorised reproduction or use of it is strictly forbidden. Reproduction of this website's content is permitted only with prior written permission from the Editor-in-Chief, should be propertly acredited and provide an active link back to our site. Comments posted by the website's visitors are independent of the editorial materials and do not represent the views of sofiaecho.com. Sofia Echo Media cannot be held responsible for the statements contained in visitor comments. The percentаge change in the shares' prices are based on the price of the last transaction of the current session compared to the price of the last transaction of the previous session. Bulgarian Stock Exchange data is not real-time, but updated every 15 minutes, and should not be used as a basis for decisions about buying or selling stock options.