No information on the treatment of members and supporters of the Euroroma political party or movement, whether members of this political organization have been detained by the authorities since 1998 for their membership in that organization or their participation in meetings of local chapters, the existence of a local chapter of Euroroma in the village of Rosino and the name of its leader, could found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

An article in the International Institute for the Study of Islam in the Modern World (ISIM) Newsletter states that Euroroma, a Roma political party, was founded in 1998 (12 Jan. 2000). The article also states that Euroroma has entered into "electoral agreements" with the Movement of Rights and Freedoms (MRF) and the Bulgarian Euroleft party (ibid.). The three-party coalition received 7,45 per cent of the votes in the 2001 parliamentary elections (European Forum January 2002) and earned 21 seats (ibid. 23 Aug. 2001). The Euroroma leader in May 2001was Tsvetelin Kunchev (Chasa 21 May 2001). He was also a Euroleft MP in the Bulgarian Parliament until July 1999 when he was stripped of his immunity (Bulgarian Helsinki Committee 2000, section 3; RFE/RL 10 Feb. 2000) and brought to trial on charges of extortion "by means of intimidation and use of force" (ibid.). A 12 November 1999 RFE/RL Newsline report states that Kanchev was specifically charged with "kidnapping, beating, robbing, and blackmailing people in his district of Zlatiza, about 100 kilometres east of Sofia." The report also states that "Bulgarian newspapers describe Kanchev as having acted like a mafia boss in his constituency, where he was referred to as Don Tsetsi." Kanchev was found guilty and sentenced in February 2000 to six years in jail (RFE/RL 10 Feb. 2000).

In 8 May 2002 correspondence, the Chairman of the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee stated that he was not aware of any cases of Euroroma members who have been detained by the authorities since 1998 for being members of that organization or participating in party meetings at the local level. He also stated that Euroroma leader Tsvetelin Kanchev is still serving his sentence, but this case "has nothing to do with Roma origins or political beliefs. This is purely a criminal matter" (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of sources additional consulted in researching this Information Request.

Bulgaria Helsinki Federation, Sofia. 8 May 2002. Correspondence from Chairman.

_____. 2000. Human Rights in Bulgaria in 1999. http://www.bghelsinki.org/en/annual/1999.html [Accessed 8 May 2002]

Chasa [Sofia, in Bulgarian]. 21 May 2001. "Disputes Over Selection of Candidates for Elections Unsettle Bulgarian Politics." (FBIS-EEU-2001-0521 21 May 2001/WNC)

European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity (EFDS). January 2002. Maaike Timmers and Liesbeth van de Grift. "Note on the Political Situation in Bulgaria." http://www.europeanforum.net/cup/bulgaria/index.htm [Accessed 1 May 2002]

_____. 23 August 2001. "Basic Facts of Bulgaria." http://www.europeanforum.net/cup/bulgaria/23082001bulgaria.html [Accessed 1 May 2002]

International Institute for the Study of Islam in the Modern World (ISIM). 12 January 2000. Valdimir Chukov. "Political Behaviour of the Bulgarian Muslim Community." http://www.isim.nl/newsletter/4/regional/16.html [Accessed 1 May 2002]

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL Newsline). 10 February 2000. "Bulgarian Parliamentary Deputy Jailed." http://rferl.org/newsline/2000/02/100200.asp [Accessed 6 May 2002]

_____. 12 November 1999. "Bulgarian Deputy Goes on Trial." http://search.rferl.org/searchresults_en.asp [Accessed 7 May 2002]

IRB databases

LEXIS/NEXIS

Political Parties of the World 2002

Internet Sources including :

Amnesty International

Country Reports 2001

Country Reports 2000

Country Reports 1999

Country Reports 1998

European Country of Origin Information Network (ECOI)

Fédération internationale des ligues des droits de l'homme (FIDH)

Human Rights Watch (HRW)

International Helsinki Committee (IHF)