Statement of the BlueLink’s Executive Board
The executive board and the founders of BlueLink Information Network express protest against the actions of the police on July 12, 2007.
On that day Michel Bozgunov was summoned and warned not to publicize upcoming, unauthorized environmental protests (flash mobs), in support of the Strandja nature park, through his personal blog.
We contend that the actions above are in violation of the constitution, which prohibits authorities from curtailing the rights of citizens because of their beliefs.
The freedom of speech, thought and conscience are explicitly declared in our constitution and are irrevocable and inviolable human rights. Therefore we declare that the actions of the General Directorate for Combat against the Organized Crime in this particular case are a direct breach of article 37, 38 and 39 of Bulgarian’s Constitution and a dangerous precedent for groundless violations of human rights.
The citizens’ information network BlueLink was created to encourage Internet use and new information technologies for rallying and strengthening civil society, democracy and nature protection in
• We unconditionally support the actions of each engaged citizen, who have the right to express his or her position on actions (or lack thereof) of Bulgarian institutions through writing or other communication forms;
• We support and will defend the unconditional right of every Bulgarian citizen to peaceful and non-violent protests and for information dissemination of such protests, recalling the European convention for the protection of human rights and the fundamental freedoms and rights of Bulgarian citizens guaranteed by the Constitution and the laws of Republic of Bulgaria and the European Union;
• We insist that the Parliament, the Government and the Minister of internal affairs, who are directly responsible for the actions of the General Directorate for Combat against the Organized Crime and the police, to give a clear signal to the Bulgarian society, that they emphatically disavow themselves form using intimidation and oppression of civil expression, which has no place in a democratic country, and a member of the European Union;
• We currently support and will continue to support the dissemination of valuable, civil information from www.bluelink.net, from its employees and users, as well as from other information sources and citizens, regardless of what local or foreign institutions, or their representatives, it affects.
• We will continue initiating all possible legal actions to protect free speech, freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, in compliance with the Constitution, laws and international agreements to which
As a member of the Association for Progressive Communications (www.apc.org), BlueLink has informed its partners from all around the world of the police’s arbitrariness in
Vassil Beiazov, architect and sailor
Willem Tjebe Oostenbrink, environmental consultant, Amsterdam
Dimiter Vassilev, Eco-Club 2000
Ivaylo Hlebarov, For the Earth
Ilian Iliev, Public Environmental Center for Sustainable Development, Varna, member of BlueLink’s Executive Board
Kamelia Djanabetska, GeoEcoClub Academica, Veliko Tarnovo
Milena Dimitrova, Center for Environmental Information and Education
Natalia Dimotrova, Ecoclub Terra, Blagoevgrad, chair of BlueLink’s Executive Board
Pavel Antonov, journalist, member of BlueLink’s Executive Board
Petko Kovachev, Green Policy Institute, member of BlueLink’s Executive Board
Petko Cvetkov, Balkani Wildlife Society, member of BlueLink’s Executive Board
Sign BlueLink’s Declaration Statement :
