BULGARIAN barrister Latchezar Popov is chairman of the board of directors of the Rule of Law Institute, a non-governmental organisation established in 1995 which has begun working closely with the Interior Ministry on a variety of projects.
The latest project is one which is unique in the world: a police ‘card’ setting out the rights of both officers and suspects for use in arrests.
The card will be in a form of a booklet featuring – in all the official languages of the United Nations – some extracts from Bulgarian bills and the rights of those arrested.
The information will be given in English, Spanish, Turkish, Arabic, Chinese and Russian. Popov said: “Police officers will only have to open the booklet at the relevant language section – and then there would be no law abuse.
“Our main principle is the universal golden rule: ‘treating others as we would want to be treated ourselves.’ This is why we want to create some protection for people’s rights.”
He explained that this project was inspired by the American’s judicial practice on the Miranda case of 1966, in which a convicted rapist was freed on appeal – because although he signed a written confession while in police custody, he had not been told of his right to remain silent or to have a lawyer and therefore his ‘rights were abused.’
Approximately 40,000 booklets will eventually be distributed – one for each policeman in the country. Scotland Yard and the U.S. are equipped with similar cards – but they do not feature the series of languages which the Bulgarian ones will.
Popov told The Echo: “The project presents an effective way of informing police officers and persons on duty at all levels on their legal rights in case of an arrest. This booklet will consist of the basic and most important information for the daily routines of police.”
Interior Minister Emanuil Yordanov signed his authorisation for the booklets at the beginning of last month and the project is underway.
Project co-ordinator Boyko Slavchev, from the Interior Ministry, told The Echo: “The police booklets project has a double aim – protection of human rights and protection of police officers. This having been written down will enable both sides to be well-acquainted with their rights.”
The ministers of justice and European integration will also have some input into proceedings.
The major topic discussed in connection to the project is the relationship between the authorities and civilians in the light of their rights and responsibilities.
“Thus we consider an establishing of better communication between police and citizens,” Popov said.
The overall aim of the RLI is to encourage lawyers and other professionals to promote the rule of law in Bulgaria. It also has a number of other pilot projects on the go. One example is the creation of a police manual together with the Interior Ministry, due for completion by the end of the year.
The RLI was launched by the president of Advocates International, Samuel Ericsson, and Latchezar Popov. Many of its aims are connected to encouragement and assistance of state institutions, public organisations and individuals in the process of setting Bulgarian legislation in conformity with the legal principles and regulations of the European and world legislation and to implement this legislation in concrete cases.
“The institute supports individuals in their need of legal knowledge and encourage the publication of the ratified and promulgated international treaties to which Bulgaria is a party. RLI is a vehicle enabling Christian lawyers and judges to promote religious liberty, justice and reconciliation, and strengthen fellowship among Christian professionals,” said Popov.
The institute takes on legal issues, gives statements and takes part in the legal cases of judicial and administrative practice, arranges meetings and assists the formation of legal attitudes.
“Our concern is justice, emphasising what is right, not politics, which emphasizes who has power. Both dimensions of law and life, recognising that law reform without ethical reform is insufficient, are of our concern.”
Another RLI project is operated in co-operation with the Danish Centre for Human Rights and involved with sending off lawyers and legal advisors for a month’s practice to specialise on human rights perspectives in Denmark. There are also a number of other projects including one on women’s rights and one on the family, which require constant monitoring according to human rights conventions for eliminating discrimination towards women.
Popov is the Bulgarian Counsel for Advocates International (U.S.), focusing on rule of law, constitutional law, non-profit law, human rights law and related matters. He said: “Advocates International is a net of Christian lawyers (judges, barristers, counsel), whose dedication is to integrate and look for common items in their faith and profession at the same time. Advocates International works with colleagues from all over the world. Religious freedom, professional morale and resolving the conflict matters are the accent in their work.”
There have been lectures and guests invited by the RLI, among them Professor Lynn Buzzard, a Law professor at Campbell University in the U.S.; Vassilius Tsirbas (a barrister from Greece; Elizabeth Bata, an international lawyer at the European Commission for Human Rights at the UN, from Switzerland; and Dr. John Montgomery from England. The RLI has twice-monthly breakfast events in different lecture venues. One of the most recent was last Thursday, in Dublin, with lecturer Jacqueline Toleva, legal advisor for Human Rights and Petitions with the 38th National Assembly.
The latest project is one which is unique in the world: a police ‘card’ setting out the rights of both officers and suspects for use in arrests.
The card will be in a form of a booklet featuring – in all the official languages of the United Nations – some extracts from Bulgarian bills and the rights of those arrested.
The information will be given in English, Spanish, Turkish, Arabic, Chinese and Russian. Popov said: “Police officers will only have to open the booklet at the relevant language section – and then there would be no law abuse.
“Our main principle is the universal golden rule: ‘treating others as we would want to be treated ourselves.’ This is why we want to create some protection for people’s rights.”
He explained that this project was inspired by the American’s judicial practice on the Miranda case of 1966, in which a convicted rapist was freed on appeal – because although he signed a written confession while in police custody, he had not been told of his right to remain silent or to have a lawyer and therefore his ‘rights were abused.’
Approximately 40,000 booklets will eventually be distributed – one for each policeman in the country. Scotland Yard and the U.S. are equipped with similar cards – but they do not feature the series of languages which the Bulgarian ones will.
Popov told The Echo: “The project presents an effective way of informing police officers and persons on duty at all levels on their legal rights in case of an arrest. This booklet will consist of the basic and most important information for the daily routines of police.”
Interior Minister Emanuil Yordanov signed his authorisation for the booklets at the beginning of last month and the project is underway.
Project co-ordinator Boyko Slavchev, from the Interior Ministry, told The Echo: “The police booklets project has a double aim – protection of human rights and protection of police officers. This having been written down will enable both sides to be well-acquainted with their rights.”
The ministers of justice and European integration will also have some input into proceedings.
The major topic discussed in connection to the project is the relationship between the authorities and civilians in the light of their rights and responsibilities.
“Thus we consider an establishing of better communication between police and citizens,” Popov said.
The overall aim of the RLI is to encourage lawyers and other professionals to promote the rule of law in Bulgaria. It also has a number of other pilot projects on the go. One example is the creation of a police manual together with the Interior Ministry, due for completion by the end of the year.
The RLI was launched by the president of Advocates International, Samuel Ericsson, and Latchezar Popov. Many of its aims are connected to encouragement and assistance of state institutions, public organisations and individuals in the process of setting Bulgarian legislation in conformity with the legal principles and regulations of the European and world legislation and to implement this legislation in concrete cases.
“The institute supports individuals in their need of legal knowledge and encourage the publication of the ratified and promulgated international treaties to which Bulgaria is a party. RLI is a vehicle enabling Christian lawyers and judges to promote religious liberty, justice and reconciliation, and strengthen fellowship among Christian professionals,” said Popov.
The institute takes on legal issues, gives statements and takes part in the legal cases of judicial and administrative practice, arranges meetings and assists the formation of legal attitudes.
“Our concern is justice, emphasising what is right, not politics, which emphasizes who has power. Both dimensions of law and life, recognising that law reform without ethical reform is insufficient, are of our concern.”
Another RLI project is operated in co-operation with the Danish Centre for Human Rights and involved with sending off lawyers and legal advisors for a month’s practice to specialise on human rights perspectives in Denmark. There are also a number of other projects including one on women’s rights and one on the family, which require constant monitoring according to human rights conventions for eliminating discrimination towards women.
Popov is the Bulgarian Counsel for Advocates International (U.S.), focusing on rule of law, constitutional law, non-profit law, human rights law and related matters. He said: “Advocates International is a net of Christian lawyers (judges, barristers, counsel), whose dedication is to integrate and look for common items in their faith and profession at the same time. Advocates International works with colleagues from all over the world. Religious freedom, professional morale and resolving the conflict matters are the accent in their work.”
There have been lectures and guests invited by the RLI, among them Professor Lynn Buzzard, a Law professor at Campbell University in the U.S.; Vassilius Tsirbas (a barrister from Greece; Elizabeth Bata, an international lawyer at the European Commission for Human Rights at the UN, from Switzerland; and Dr. John Montgomery from England. The RLI has twice-monthly breakfast events in different lecture venues. One of the most recent was last Thursday, in Dublin, with lecturer Jacqueline Toleva, legal advisor for Human Rights and Petitions with the 38th National Assembly.
