MINISTRY OF INTERIOR ACT

In force since 01.05.2006.

Promulg. Official Gazette, No. 17 of 24 February 2006,
amend. Official Gazette, No. 30 of 11 April 2006
Part One
PRINCIPLES OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERIORS OPERATION
Chapter One
GENERAL
Art. 1. (1) This Act shall regulate the principles, activities, structure and
managerial organs, the means used, the rights and obligations of the officers, their
training and career development, as well as the provision of the Ministry of Interior
(MoI) to protect the national security, counteract criminality and maintain the public
order in the Republic of Bulgaria.
(2) The activities related to the protection of national security, counteraction
to criminality and maintenance of public order shall be performed by the MoI organs
independently and in cooperation with other public authorities empowered for that
purpose.
Art. 2. (1) The Ministry of Interior is an administration characteristic for its
hierarchic character and centralism of management; the Ministrys activity is oriented
towards protection of the rights and freedoms of citizens, the national security and the
public order.
(2) On the MoI operation, civic control shall be exercised through the
authorities established by Constitution and this Act.
(3) The civic control shall secure the civic societys supremacy over the MoI
organs, with the purpose to maintain the constitutional order in the country.
Art. 3. The Ministry of Interior shall be a legal entity funded from the state
budget.

Chapter Two
MAIN PRINCIPLES OF OPERATION
Art. 4. The MoI shall operate based on the following main principles:
1. observance of the Construction, legislation and international treaties, to

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which the Republic of Bulgaria is a party.
2. respect for and guarantee of the rights and freedoms of the citizens and
their dignity;
3. centralism in organization and management;
4. publicity;
5. conspiracy in the combination of public and secret methods and means in
the cases as provided by law;
6. collaboration with citizens.
Art. 5. In compliance with their official duties, the MoI officers shall
represent the entire society. They shall enjoy immunity and shall be protected by legal
status. Such immunity shall be manifested by special protection of their health and
life.

Chapter Three
MAIN TASKS
Art. 6. The main MoI tasks shall be as follows:
1. protection of national security;
2. counteraction to criminality and maintenance of public order;
3. protection of the rights and freedoms of citizens and safeguarding their life,
health and property;
4. safeguarding the fire safety and protection of citizens and property in the
case of fires, calamities, accidents or catastrophes;
5. guarding and controlling the national borders;
6. protection of the states economic and financial credit system, and its
cultural wealth;
7. provision of information for the Ministry and the public authorities;
8. rendering assistance to other public authorities;
9. international cooperation;
10. provision of administrative services and realization of control activity.

Chapter Four
MAIN ACTIVITIES
Art. 7. The main MoI activities directed to fulfillment of the tasks under Art.
6 shall be as follows:
1. collection, analysis and assessment of information, prognostication and
development of guidelines related to the national security;
2. prevention of coercive change of the order established by Constitution of
the Republic of Bulgaria;
3. counteraction to criminality by discovering and investigating crimes in the
accepted legal order;

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4. preventive activity;
5. maintenance of public order;
6. guarding and controlling the national borders, realization of border
regimen, passport and visa control;
7. protection of strategic and especially important objects;
8. prevention of terrorist acts;
9. public fire-prevention control, fire fighting and rescue activity to protect
people in the case of fires, calamities, accidents or catastrophes;
10. organization and implementation of operative search;
11. provision and employment of special intelligence devices, as well as
utilization and storage of the data so acquired;
12. acquisition, analysis and storage of information, including personal data
processing and delivering such information in the cases as provided by law;
13. setup of data collections and information systems, and management of
information activity;
14. provision of special communications for public authorities;
15. cryptograph protection of classified information in the Republic of
Bulgaria and in its diplomatic and consular representative services, as well as
protection of such information provided by relevant technical means;
16. license and control over activities as provided by law;
17. control over the regimen of foreigners stay and counteraction to illegal
migration;
18. issue of identity and qualification papers, and control over their use;
19. control over the road transport safety, the technical operability of motor
vehicles and their registration;
20. convoying;
21. collaboration with other public and international authorities and
organizations;
22. implementation of coercive administrative measures;
23. administrative penal proceedings.
Art. 8. Other activities shall be entrusted to the MoI only by law.

Chapter Five
STRUCTURE AND AUTHORITIES
Section I
Structure
Art. 9. The MoI main structural units shall be: National Services, Specialized
Directorates, MoI Academy, MoI Medical Institute, Research Institutes, and Applied
Sciences Institutes.

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Art. 10. (1) The National MoI Services shall be as follows:
1. National Security Service
2. National Police Service
3. National Fire Safety and Protection of Population Service.
(2) The establishment, organization, structure and operation of the National
Services shall be regulated by this Act.
(3) The National Services under Para 1 shall be legal entities.
Art. 11. The National Security Service shall comprise:
1. General Security Directorate;
2. Regional Security Offices.
Art. 12. (1) The National Police Service shall comprises:
1. General Police Directorate;
2. Regional Police Directorates.
(2) At the Police General Directorate, General Directorates and Directorates
shall be established.
(3) The names, organization, structure and operation of the Directorates under
Para 2 shall be determined in the Rules on the Implementation of this Act.
(4) The Directorates under Para 1 shall be legal entities.
Art. 13. (1) The National Fire Safety and Protection of Population Service
shall comprise:
1. General Fire Safety and Protection of Population Directorate;
2. Regional Fire Safety and Protection of Population Directorates.
(2) The Directorates under Para 1 shall be legal entities.
Art. 14. (1) The Regional Police Directorates and the Regional Fire Safety
and Protection of Population Directorates shall be determined by the Council of
Ministers, at suggestion by the Minister of Interior.
(2) At the Regional Directorates for Police, and for Fire Safety and Protection
of Population, the Minister of Interior may establish District Police Offices and
District Fire Safety and Protection of Population Services.
(3) The operation areas of the Units under Para 2 shall be established in view
of the state of criminality, public order and fire safety.
(4) At the District Police Offices, and the District Fire Safety and Protection
of Population Services, the Minister of Interior may establish within the limits of the
approved numerical strength and the resources for salaries Police Sections in charge
for Fire Safety and Protection of Population in the individual inhabited localities in the
service territory.
Art. 15. The operation areas and the headquarters of the territorial structures
of the National Security Service shall be determined by the Council of Ministers, at
suggestion by the Minister of Interior.

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Art. 16. (1) The Specialized MoI Directorates shall be as follows:
1. Operative and Technical Information Directorate;
2. Intercommunications Directorate;
3. Communications Facilities Protection Directorate;
4. Operative Search Directorate;
5. Inspectorate Directorate;
6. Information and Archives Directorate;
7. Crisis Management and Defense Mobilization Directorate;
8. Coordination and Information Analysis Directorate;
9. Legal and Normative Service Directorate;
10. International cooperation Directorate;
11. Press Center and Public Relation Directorate;
12. Human Resources Directorate;
13. Finance and Resource Provision Directorate;
14. Logistics and Social Services Directorate which shall be a legal entity;
15. Revisions Directorate.
(2) The organization, structure and operation of the Directorates under Para 1
shall be regulated in the Rules on the Implementation of this Act.
Art. 17. (1) The MoI Academy shall be a higher school established on the
base of a Decree passed by the National Assembly.
(2) The MoI Academy shall be a legal entity.
(3) The structure and operation of the MoI Academy shall be determined in
the Rules adopted by the Council of Ministers, at suggestion by the Minister of
Interior.
Art. 18. (1) The MoI Medical Institute shall be a medical institution under
Art. 5 (1) of the Medical Institutions Act.
(2) The MoI Medical Institute shall be research and applied science institute
involved in the realization of MoI health services.
(3) The MoI Medical Institute shall be a legal entity.
Art. 19. (1) The Research and Applied Sciences Institutes shall be established,
transformed and closed down by the Council of Ministers, at suggestion by the
Minister of Interior.
(2) The structure and operation of the Institutes under Para 1 be determined in
Rules approved by the Minister of Interior.

Section II
System Management
Art. 20. (1) The MoI management shall be realized by the Minister, Deputy
Ministers and Secretary General.
(2) The processes of cooperation and coordination within the MoI shall be
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managed and controlled by the Minister, Deputy Ministers, Secretary General and
Directors of Services and Directorates.
Art. 21. The Minister of Interior shall realize the general and direct
management of the Ministry, at which the Minister shall:
1. implement the policy of the state on protection of national security,
counteraction to criminality and maintenance of public order in the country;
2. organize the cooperation with other public authorities, as well as with nongovernmental organizations, related to the MoI operation;
3. realize international cooperation;
4. approve the structure and staffs, establish and close down structural units
within the limits of the approved budget and numerical strength;
5. prepare and propose the MoI draft budget;
6. assign the MoI budget, manage the finance and logistics and exercise
control over the liable persons work within the MoI structures;
7. govern the Human resources management;
8. govern and secure the implementation of social policy;
9. govern the economic policy in performing the Ministrys service and
auxiliary activities, inclusive shall found business companies based on public
property;
10. be charged with the management of the public properties granted to the
MoI;
11. be charged with the legal coverage of the Ministrys operation, at which
the Minister shall pass rules, regulations, instructions and orders;
12. approve the Code of Ethical Behaviour of MoI public officers;
13. fulfill also other functions as established by law.
Art. 22. (1) The Minister of Interior shall fulfill the above functions directly
and with the support of the Deputy Ministers and Secretary General.
(2) In case of absence, the Minister of Interior shall be replaced by a Deputy
Minister appointed by the Minister by written order.
(3) In case of long absence of the Minister of Interior, the Council of
Ministers shall appoint a Ministers substitute.
(4) At fulfilling the above functions, the Minister of Interior shall be assisted
by a Political Cabinet.
Art. 23. (1) The Deputy Ministers shall support the Minister in the
implemention of the governmental program and in the realization of the Ministers
powers.
(2) The Minister of Interior shall by order delegate powers to the Deputy
Ministers and specify their functions.
(3) Within the limits of their powers established by order under Para 2, the
Deputy Ministers shall organize the cooperation and coordinate the operation of the
National Services and the Specialized Directorates.
(4) In implementing their powers the Deputy Ministers shall give orders.

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Art. 24. (1) The Secretary General shall be the MoI highest professional
office.
(2) The Secretary General shall:
1. organize, coordinate and control the operative search, secret service and
security operations;
2. organize the cooperation between the MoI Services;
3. coordinate the operation with the relevant services in other states, and with
international authorities and organizations;
4. give orders in connection with the fulfillment of the above functions.
Art. 25. The office of Secretary General may be assumed only by a person
ranked in Category or B within the meaning of this Act.
Art. 26. (1) The Political Cabinet shall be directly subordinated to the
Minister of Interior; the Cabinet shall have consultative and information analysis
functions and shall realize the MoI public relations.
(2) The Political Cabinet shall support the Minister of Interior in the
formulation and development of specific decisions concerning the implementation of
the governmental policy, as well as in the presentation of such policy to the
community.
(3) The Political Cabinet shall comprise the Deputy Ministers, the Cabinets
Head, the Parliamentary Secretary and the Director of the Press Center and Public
Relation Directorate.
(4) The Political Cabinets work shall be organized by the Cabinets Head.
(5) The Cabinets Head and the Parliamentary Secretary shall be employed
under labour contract shall be directly subordinated to the Minister of Interior.
(6) The expert and technical collaborators at the Political Cabinet shall not
fulfill managerial functions.
(7) The expert and technical collaborators shall be employed by the Minister
of Interior under labour contract. They shall not enjoy the status of public officers, and
their labour relations shall be terminated by order signed by the Minister of Interior or
upon termination of the Ministers mandate.
(8) The resources needed for the Political Cabinets operation and the salaries
for its personnel shall form an individual item in the MoI budget.

Section III
National Services Management
Art. 27. The National Services shall be managed by Directors, who shall be
directly subordinated to the Minister of Interior and shall be the line managers of the
National Services officers.
Art. 28. (1) The Directors shall realize the general and direct management of
the Services, at which they shall:
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1. organize, manage and be in charge for the Services operation;
2. implement the orders given by the MoI Leadership and report to the latter
on the directions of operation;
3. coordinate the Services operation with other public authorities through the
MoI Leadership;
4. manage the data collections, secure and be in charge for the information
unity between the National Service and the relevant territorial units;
5. realize collaboration with the relevant services of other states, international
authorities and organizations;
6. assign the Services budget and manage their finance and logistics;
7. be in charge for the management of human resources;
8. be in charge for the management of the public properties granted to the
Services;
9. pass penal provisions and implement measures of administrative pressure
as provided by law;
10. represent the legal entity.
(2) For fulfilling the functions under Para 1 the Directors shall give orders.
(3) For the National Services Directors, Art. 25 shall apply.
Art. 29. (1) For fulfilling their functions, the Directors shall be assisted by
Deputy Directors.
(2) The Deputy Directors shall fulfill managerial the functions entrusted by
Directors order.
Art. 30. (1) The Regional Directorates shall be managed by Directors, who
shall:
1. realize the general and direct management, at which they shall organize,
manage and control the activity of the Directorates structural units;
2. organize the execution of the orders given by their superior organs;
3. answer to the Services Director for the entire operation of the units under
their control, and to the Deputy Directors in accordance with the functions entrusted
to the latter;
4. cooperate with the other MoI structural units;
5. assign the Directorates budget and manage the logistics;
6. be in charge for the management of the public properties granted to the
Service;
7. be in charge for the human resources management;
8. cooperate with the local and other public authorities;
9. issue penal provisions and implement measures of administrative pressure
as provided by law;
10. represent the legal entity.
(2) For fulfilling the functions under Para 1 the Directors shall issue orders.
(3) For fulfilling such functions the Directors shall be assisted by the Deputy
Directors who shall fulfill functions of management entrusted to them by Directors
order.

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Section IV
Specialized Directorates Management
Art. 31. The Specialized Directorates shall be managed by Directors.
Art. 32. (1) The Directors shall realize the general and direct management and
anser to the MoI Leadership for the entire Directorates operation.
(2) The Directors, in accordance with the Directorates functions, shall realize
the methodological guidance and control over the operation of similar units within the
MoI structure.
(3) For fulfilling the functions under Para 1 the Directors shall give orders.
Art. 33. (1) For fulfilling their functions the Directors shall be assisted by the
Deputy Directors.
(2) The Deputy Directors shall fulfill the managerial functions entrusted by
Directors order.
Art. 34. The Director of the Logistics and Social Services Directorate shall
represent the legal entity.

Section V
MoI Academy, MoI Medical Institute, and Research and Applied
Sciences Institutes Management
Art. 35. (1) The MoI Academy shall be governed by an Academic Council
and a President.
(2) The Academic Council shall be the authority in charge for the government
of the Academys educational and scientific activity and shall:
1. adopt curricula for every profession and educational qualification degree,
as well as course outlines concerning the relevant subjects which have been prepared
by the Subfaculties;
2. adopt plans for research, applied science and editorial-publishing activity;
3. make decisions to announce competitions for assistants and habilitated
lecturers;
4. make selection following a realized competition for assistants;
5. select non-habilitated lecturers for higher scientific posts;
6. fulfill other functions ensuing from normative acts related to science and
higher education which shall be implemented in compliance with this Act and the
administrative acts concerning such implementation.
(3) The President shall be the line manager of the Academys officers, the
cadets and officers sent for training by other services, shall be in charge for the
fulfillment of their obligations related to the educational process, for the order and
discipline at the Academy, for which the President shall:
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1. fix the Agenda of the Academic Council meetings;
2. make decisions on any issue related to admittance, strike-off or transferring
of cadets;
3. fulfill other functions ensuing from the laws or entrusted by the Minister of
Interior;
4. represent the legal entity.
(4) The President shall be habilitated person and appointed by the Minister of
Interior.
(5) The composition of the Academic Council shall be determined by the
Minister of Interior, at suggestion by the Academys President.
Art. 36. (1) The MoI Medical Institute, and the Research and Applied
Sciences Institutes shall be managed by Directors, who shall:
1. organize, manage, control and be in charge for the relevant Institutes
operation;
2. manage and control the preparation of prospect and operative plans and
secure their fulfillment;
3. organize the cooperation with other MoI Institutes and Services;
4. be in charge for selection, training, and improvement of the qualification
and efficient use of the scientific personnel;
5. be in charge for the management of the public properties, and the material
and technical facilities granted to them.
(2) The Directors under Para 1 shall be habilitated persons.
(3) For fulfilling the functions under Para 1, the Directors shall issue orders.
Art. 37. (1) For fulfilling their functions the Directors shall be assisted by
Deputy Directors.
(2) The Deputy Directors shall fulfill functions the managerial entrusted by
Directors order.

Part Two
MANAGEMENT, TASKS, ACTIVITIES, POWERS AND
ORGANS OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERIORS MAIN
STRUCTURAL UNITS
Chapter Six
NATIONAL SECURITY SERVICE
Section I
Tasks and Activities
Art. 38. The National Security Service shall be the MoI specialized counterZMVR_EN.doc

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intelligence and information service in charge for protection of the national security
against operations of foreign special services, organizations or persons directed against
the national interests; for identification and neutralization of processes endangering the
order established by Constitution, the nations unity, the countrys territorial integrity
and sovereignty.
Art. 39. The National Security Service shall fulfill counter-intelligence,
information analysis, prognostication, control, coordination and methodology activity.
Art. 40. (1) The National Security Service shall fulfill independently or
together with other public authorities counter-intelligence activity, as watching,
discovering, counteracting, preventing and breaking of planned, prepared or
committed violations of the national security related to:
1. intelligence work in favour of foreign forces;
2. danger to the nations unity, and the countrys territorial integrity
sovereignty;
3. anticonstitutional activity;
4. employment of force or means dangerous to the public safety, for political
purposes;
5. danger to the economic and financial security related to the involvement of
foreign services or organizations;
6. danger to the ecological security;
7. violation to the operation of the National System for Protection of
Classified Information;
8. jeopardizing the security of objects and activities strategic to the country;
9. destructive impact on communication and information systems;
10. threats to the security of public authorities;
11. international terrorism and extremism;
12. illegal international trade in weapons, commodities or technologies of
possible dual use;
13. illegal production, storage and distribution of facilities, commodities or
technologies of possible dual use endangering the public safety, as well as of narcotic
substances and precursors - assisted, organized or realized by foreign services or
organizations;
14. illegal migration processes.
(2) The National Security Service shall perform counter-intelligence activity
in respect of foreign special services, organizations and persons involved in activity
endangering the national security.
Art. 41. (1) The information activity performed by the National Security
Service shall cover as follows
1. information analysis and prognostication by collecting, processing and
storing of information of importance to the national security and national interests, to
the needs of the public administration, and related to the management and
performance of the Services own activity;

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2. preparation of counter-intelligence assessments of the state of national
security based on the Services own information and on information obtained from
other public authorities, specialized in the sphere of protection of national security and
maintenance of public order;
3. informing the highest organs of government about the state of and threats
to the national security;
4. preparation of information materials of reference, analytic or prognostic
character and delivering such materials to other public authorities as provided by law.
(2) To perform the activity under Para 1 the National Security Service shall
setup own data collections.
(3) The MoI Services and Directorates shall in time deliver to the National
Security Service any information that came to them or that they acquired, which may
be of importance to the protection of national security, in the manner established in a
Minister of Interiors instruction.
Art. 42. (1) The National Security Service shall provide counter-intelligence
protection of the countrys strategic activities and objects, independently or together
with other specialized organs.
(2) The National Security Service shall realize coordination and operative
cooperation with foreign special services, in compliance with the international
obligations of the Republic of Bulgaria and in the interest of the national security.
(3) The National Security Service shall cooperate with other public
authorities, within the Services terms of reference.

Section II
Competences of the Organs
Art. 43. The organs of the National Security Service shall be public officers.
Art. 44. (1) In order to realize their operation the organs under Art. 43 shall
have the powers to:
1. exercise surveillance and control over persons, objects and activities related
to violations of and dangers to the national security;
2. implement and use intelligence methods and devices under conditions and
procedures as provided by Minister of Interiors regulation;
3. attract citizens for voluntary collaboration;
4. employ special intelligence devices under conditions and procedures as
provided by law;
5. get assistance and organize the cover for their officers and the officers
operations within public authorities, organizations and legal entities, under conditions
and procedures as provided by Council of Ministers Ordinance;
6. collect, process, store and utilize data needed to examine facts, persons and
objects related to the security of the country;
7. obtain information from public authorities, organizations and persons

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related to the protection of national security;
8. provide information to the highest organs of government and management
through the MoI leaders;
9. provide information to other public authorities, organizations and persons
as provided by law.
(2) To the President of Republic of Bulgaria, the National Assembly Speaker
and the Prime Minister information, equal in volume and contents shall be delivered.
Art. 45. (1) The National Security Service shall be involved in controlling the
operation of the National System for Protection of Classified Information, in
conformity with the Protection of Classified Information Act and the subdelegated
legislation on its implementation.
(2) The instructions given by the Service Director or by organs empowered by
the latter shall be obligatory to officials.
(3) The violations of the order established for protection of the classified
information shall be ascertained by acts drafted by the Services organs.
(4) On the grounds of the statements drafted the National Security Service
Director shall issue penal provisions.
Art. 46. (1) The National Security Service shall perform controlling activity
related to foreigners stay in the Republic of Bulgaria.
(2) The National Security Service Director shall impose coercive
administrative measure under Art. 75 of the Bulgarian Identity Papers Act to persons
whose travel would endanger the Republic of Bulgaria security, not to leave the
country.
Art. 47. (1) The National Security Services organs shall be entitled to warn
orally or in writing persons if there are sufficient data to suppose that such persons are
ready to commit criminal or other acts endangering the national security.
(2) The National Security Services organs shall be entitled to summon
citizens to official premises for the purposes under Para 1.
Art. 48. The National Security Services organs shall not have lawenforcement powers under Chapter Seven, Section II.
Art. 49. (1) The public authorities, organizations, legal entities and citizens
shall be obliged to render assistance to the National Security Services organs to fulfill
their tasks entrusted by legal status.
(2) The public authorities and legal entities shall be obliged to immediately
provide the National Security Service with any information received or acquired, if
such information is related to fulfillment of the Services tasks entrusted by legal
status.
(3) The National Security Service shall be entitled to reqest information from
the organs and persons under Para 2 if required for fulfillment of the Services tasks

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entrusted by legal status.
Art. 50. (1) For fulfilling the tasks entrusted by legal status, the National
Security Service shall setup and maintain data collections.
(2) The procedure of setting-up and maintaining data collections, as well as
the procedure of safeguarding, using and delivering of information from the latter shall
be established by Minister of Interiors administrative acts, at suggestion by the
National Security Service Director.

Chapter Seven
NATIONAL POLICE SERVICE
Section I
Tasks and Activities
Art. 51. (1) The National Police Service shall be the MoI specialized
operative search and security service in charge with the following:
1. maintenance of public order;
2. prevention, discovery and investigation of crimes;
3. counteraction to criminal activity of local and transnational criminal groups
or organizations;
4. national borders protection and controlling the border regimen observance,
counteraction to illegal migration and people traffic;
5. prevention of terrorist acts and neutralization of terrorist and diversionary
groups;
6. protection and surveillance of strategic and especially important objects;
7. administrative control over foreigners stay in the Republic of Bulgaria.
(2) The National Police Service shall perform such activity independently or
together with other public authorities, organizations and citizens.
Art. 52. (1) In compliance with the tasks under Art. 51 the National Police
Service shall:
1. organize and realize the maintenance of public order;
2. prevent, discover and investigate crimes;
3. protect the rights and freedoms of citizens, support the exercise of such
freedoms of citizens and preserve their property;
4. counteract to organized criminality and corruption, including by using
officers under cover;
5. secure the national borders and the zones and objects specified under Para
3;
6. independently or together with other public authorities, implement the
border regimen and control over persons and vehicles passing the countrys border,
including in the zones and objects specified under Para 3;

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7. receive and transfer breakers to entry or stay regimen from and to other
states, in compliance with the law and the international treaties, to which the Republic
of Bulgaria is a party;
8. perform convoying of foreigners subject to deportation or to coercive
bringing to the border of the Republic of Bulgaria, in compliance with the law and the
international treaties, to which the Republic of Bulgaria is a party;
9. set and maintain in order the border signs, mark the borderline of the
national borders and bar destruction, shift or other acts related to the territorial
integrity of the Republic of Bulgaria;
10. draft large-scale maps and documentation concerning the national borders,
setup and maintain the geodesy and cartography fund;
11. prevent terrorist acts and neutralize terrorist and diversionary groups;
12. organize and realize protection and security of strategic and especially
important objects;
13. organize and provide security when events of the MoI Leadership take
place;
14. organize and fulfill tasks securing the MoI Leadership at wartime and
peacetime stations if the country is brought from state of peace to state of war, and in
complicated situations;
15. control over the road transport safety, the technical operability of the
motor vehicles and organize the registration of motor vehicles, drivers and traffic
accidents;
16. allow and exercise control over acts involving generally hazardous means;
17. allow and control over persons involved in security;
18. issue Bulgarian identity papers and realize administrative control over
their issue, use and storage;
19. search defendants and prisoners at the bar who escaped from penal
prosecution, evade from serving their term of punishment, missing persons, as well as
other persons, in the cases as provided by law;
20. organize and perform activities related to convoying persons in the
country and abroad;
21. accomplish acts required for the identification of persons;
22. attract citizens and non-governmental organizations to voluntarily help at
fulfilling the Services functions, as provided by law - under the conditions and
procedures established by Minister of Interiors regulation;
23. independently or together with other MoI structural units, as well as with
other public authorities empowered for that purpose, carry out operative and other acts
related to maintaining the countrys security;
24. realize international information and operative police collaboration;
25. deliver information to public authorities, organizations, legal entities and
citizens, who have the legal interest and reason to obtain such information - under the
conditions and procedures determined by the Minister of Interior; the non-budgetary
funded legal entities and the citizens shall pay charges in the amount determined by
the Council of Ministers;
26. cooperate with and assist the public authorities and local self-management
and non-governmental organizations, and take the necessary measures for observing

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the laws and the public authorities instructions;
27. collect, process, utilize and deliver information acquired during or on the
occasion of the fulfillment of the Services functions;
28. examine and analyze the reasons and conditions for the state of
criminality favouring the commitment of crimes and other offences, and fulfill
signalling functions concerning public authorities, juridical and physical persons, in
order to remove such reasons;
29. accomplish criminological and criminalistical examinations, collect,
examine and assess tracks and material evidence, and produce expert examinations;
30. develop methodologies concerning the prevention and discovery of
crimes;
31. perform also other activities as provided by law.
(2) The offices and organs entrusting the execution of the activities under Para
1, item 29 shall provide the documents and funds required for their realization.
(3) In order to secure the national borders and control the observance of the
border regimen the National Police Service shall fulfill its functions in the border
zone, in the zones of border check-points, international airports and seaports, inland
waters, territorial sea, adjacent zone, continental shelf, the Bulgarian part of the river
of Danube, as well as in the zones of the other border rivers and ponds.
(4) By Council of Ministers Ordinance, the following shall be established:
1. depth of border strip and border zone;
2. opening and closure of border check-points.
(5) By Minister of Interiors administrative act, the following shall be
established:
1. the procedure to implement the border passport and visa control at the
border check-points;
2. the methods and organization to perform security of land, sea and river
sections of the national borders.

Section II
Competences of the Organs
Art. 53. (1) The organs of the National Police Service shall be public officers.
(2) During participation in missions of international organizations the organs
under Para 1 shall obey also the rules of the relevant mission.
Art. 54. (1) The pre-trial investigators shall perform investigations of crimes
under the procedures of the Penal Procedure Code.
(2) No other functions shall be entrusted to pre-trial investigators except for
the ones under Para 1.
(3) In exercising such powers a pre-trial investigator shall make decisions in
conformity with his/her convictions based on the objective, comprehensive and
complete examination of all circumstances under the relevant case, governed by law.
(4) A public prosecutors written instructions concerning the investigation
shall be obligatory to a pre-trial investigator.
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(5) Higher-ranking officials shall not be entitled to give instructions
concerning the performance of acts under an investigation and drafting conclusion, as
well as in any other way to interfere in the investigation.
Art. 55. (1) Police organs may issue instructions to public authorities,
organizations, legal entities and citizens, if necessary for the fulfillment of the
functions so entrusted. Such instructions shall be written or oral.
(2) In case it is not possible to issue written or oral instructions, such
instructions shall be given by acts with a meaning clear to the relevant persons.
(3) In view of fulfilling the functions of control over the road traffic safety,
instructions may be given by acts or signs as provided by law.
(4) The police organs instructions shall be obligatory except in cases when
their fulfillment would result in committing a crime or violation which is clear to the
relevant person.
(5) (Amend. - Official Gazette, No. 30/2006). Instructions issued in written
form shall be subject to appeal under the Administrative Procedure Code.
Art. 56. (1) Police organs may warn orally or in writing a person, where there
are sufficient data and it may be supposed that such person will commit a crime or
violation of the public order.
(2) On such warning in writing a record shall be drafted, by which the person
is warned of the liability provided for commiting such crime or violation of the public
order.
(3) A record of warning shall be drafted in the presence of the relevant person
and a witness; following the acquaintance with its contents, the record shall be signed
by the police organ, the person and the witness. The persons refusal of signature shall
be attested by the witnesss signature. In cases of family violence a copy of the record
of warning shall be delivered to the victim on request.
Art. 57. (1) After the conditions and reasons for committing of crimes and
other violations of the public order have been established, the police organs shall take
measures for their removal.
(2) Where other organs or organizations are competent to take measures under
Para 1, the police organs shall notify them in writing about it.
(3) The competent organs under Para 2 shall be obliged to, within one month,
notify in writing the police organs of the measures taken.
Art. 58. The police organs shall prevent and discover crimes.
Art. 59. (1) The police organs shall register persons brought to justice as
accused for committed intentional crime of a general nature. The public authorities
implementing the penal proceedings shall be obliged to undertake the measures
required for such registration by the police organs.
(2) Such registration shall be a kind of processing personal data of the persons

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under Para 1, to be fulfilled under the conditions of this Act.
(3) For the purposes of such registration the police organs shall:
1. collect personal data of the persons established under Art. 18, items 1 - 20
of the Bulgarian Identity Papers Act;
2. take the persons fingerprint and photograph;
3. confiscate samples of the persons DNA profile, if required.
(4) For performing the acts under Para 3, items 1 and 2, the persons consent
shall not be necessary.
(5) The persons shall be obliged to provide the samples required under Para 3,
item 3, and if they refuse to do so, such samples shall be taken in a coercive manner,
with the permission given by a judge belonging to the relevant Court of first instance.
(6) The procedure of fulfilling police registration shall be established by
Minister of Interiors regulation.
Art. 60. (1) The police organs shall be entitled to summon to official premises
citizens, in compliance with their powers under this Act.
(2) The police organs shall notify in writing the citizens of such summon. In
the notification, the purpose of summoning, and the time and place of appearance shall
be explicitly indicated.
(3) In urgent cases such summoning may be made on telephone, telex or
telefax. Summoning on telephone or telefax shall be attested in writing by the official
who made it, and on telex by written acknowledgement of its receipt.
Art. 61. (1) The police organs shall be entitled to make examinations in order
to establish a persons identity:
1. of whom there are data that the person has committed crime or another
violation of the public order;
2. if this is necessary for the discovery or investigation of crimes and if
administrative penal proceedings have been instigated;
3. to control the regularity of identity papers and the stay in the country;
4. at check-points organized by the police;
5. upupon request by another public organ to render assistance, under
conditions and procedures as provided by law.
(2) The identity shall be established by submitting a paper of the persons
identity, based on information delivered by citizens with established identity knowing
the relevant person or in another way appropriate for the collection of reliable data.
Art. 62. (1) The police organs shall be entitled to perform acts required for
identification of a person, where:
1. the persons identity can not be established under the procedures of Art. 61,
Para 2;
2. the person has committed crime or there are data indicative for a crime
committed by such person;
3. a foreigner seeking protection under the Asylum and Refugees Act has
entered the country not in the legally established order, or is illegally staying in the

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Republic of Bulgaria.
(2) The identification acts shall cover the following:
1. taking of fingerprints and palm prints;
2. photographing the person;
3. establishment of distinguishing externals;
4. measurements and taking of samples in view of comparative examinations;
5. taking of samples of biological origin, for comparative DNA identification.
(3) For the acts under Para 2, items 1 4, the persons consent shall not be
required.
(4) For the acts under Para 2, item 5, Art. 59, Para 5 shall apply.
(5) Should the reasons under Art. 61, Para 1 be no longer relevant, the police
organs shall officially or on the persons request destroy the materials collected.
Art. 63. (1) The police organs shall be entitled to detain a person:
1. if there are data that the person has committed a crime;
2. who, following due warning, consciously deters the police organ from
meeting the organs obligation on duty;
3. who shows serious psychic deviations and by his/her behaviour violates the
public order or puts to obvious danger his/her life or the life of other persons;
4. a juvenile breaker who has left his/her home, guardian, trustee or
specialized institution, in which such minor has been accommodated;
5. if it is impossible to establish the persons identity in the cases and manners
established in Art. 61, Para 2;
6. who deviated from serving his/her term of punishment detention under
custody" or in places, where the person has been detained as an accused, in
compliance with a police or judicial organs instruction;
7. the person is declared for international search on the request of another
state in connection with the persons extradition or in compliance with European order
of arrest;
8. in other cases as provided by law.
(2) In the cases under Para 1 the person may be accommodated in special
premises and against such person measures for personal security may be taken, if the
persons behaviour and the purposes of detention require so.
(3) Where a detainee has no command of the Bulgarian language, he/she shall
be directly informed about the reasons of his/her detention in a language
understandable to such detainee.
(4) The detainee shall be entitled to appeal to the Court the legality of such
detention. The Court shall directly deliver judgement on such appeal.
(5) Since the moment of detention the person shall be entitled to attorney.
(6) In case of detention the relevant organ shall be obliged to immediately
notify a person indicated by the detainee.
Art. 64. A person detained under the conditions of Art. 63, Para 1, items 1 - 5,
shall not be deprived of other rights except for the right of free movement. The term of
detention in the above cases shall not exceed 24 hours.

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Art. 65. (1) In order to take a detainee to a place of detention, the police
organs shall issue written order.
(2) The police organs shall be obliged to immediately set free a person, if the
reasons of detention dropped off.
Art. 66. For prevention of crimes or violations of the public order, the police
organs shall be entitked to use also technical devices for obvious surveillance which
shall be announced in advance, in an appropriate procedure.
Art. 67. (1) The police organs may convoy persons in the country and abroad.
(2) The offices and organs entrusting with such convoying shall provide the
documents and funds required for the realization of such convoying.
Art. 68. (1) The police organs shall search persons who:
1. have been detained under the conditions of Art. 63, Para 1;
2. if there are data that the relevant person holds articles dangerous or
prohibited to hold;
3. were found in a place, where a crime or violation of the public order has
been committed, if there are sufficient data that the relevant person holds belongings
related to such crime or violation.
(2) The persons search shall be executed only by a person of the same sex.
Art. 69. (1) The police organs shall be entitled to check personal belongings
of persons as follows:
1. in the cases under Art. 61, Para 1, items 1, 2 and 4, Art. 62, Para 1, items 1
and 3 and Art. 63, Para 1, items 3, 4, 6 and 7;
2. if there are sufficient data that material evidence of committed crime was
hidden;
3. in other cases as provided by law.
(2) A vehicle may be examined, if there are data of a committed crime or
violation of the public order.
Art. 70. (1) For every case of performed search or examination of belongings
and vehicles the police organ shall draft a record.
(2) The record under Para 1 shall be signed by the police organ, by one
witness and the relevant person, to whom a copy shall be delivered.
(3) The search and examination of belongings and vehicles shall be made in a
manner not defaming the honour and dignity of the citizens.
Art. 71. (1) The police organs may perform examinations in premises, failing
the consent of the relevant owner or dweller, or in their absence only if:
1. an immediately forthcoming or an already started serious crime shall be
prevented;
2. there are data that in such premise a person is hiding who has committed a
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serious crime;
3. urgent assistance shall be rendered to persons whose life, health or personal
freedom have been endangered or in other cases of urgency.
(2) Following the completion of such examination the police organs shall be
obliged to draft a record where they shall state:
1. the name and office of the officer and his/her place of employment;
2. the identity of the premises owner or dweller;
3. the reasons for such examination;
4. the time and place of its realization;
5. the results of such examination.
(3) The record shall be signed by the police organ, by one witness and the
owner or dweller of the premise if the latter is attending. The refusal of an owner or
dweller to sign the record shall be attested by the witnesss signature.
(4) A copy of the record shall be delivered to the premises owner or dweller.
(5) The relevant public prosecutor shall be immediately informed of the
examination carried out.
Art. 72. (1) For fulfilling their obligations on duty the police organs may
apply physical force and auxiliary means only if they are not able to meet such
obligations in another way in cases as follows:
1. counteraction or refusal to fulfill a legal instruction;
2. detention of a lawbreaker who fails to obey or offers resistance to a police
organ;
3. convoying a person or if the latter tries to escape, to commit suicide or
murder, or to infringe somebody elses health;
4. rendering assistance to other public authorities or officials who are illegally
prevented from fulfilling their obligations;
5. attacks against citizens and police organs;
6. liberation of hostages;
7. group violations of the public order;
8. attacks against buildings, premises, installations and vehicles;
9. freeing of illegally occupied objects, if they got such instruction by a
competent organ.
(2) Auxiliary means shall be as follows: handcuffs, strait jackets, rubber,
plastic, assault or electric shock sticks and devices; chemical substances approved by
the Minister of Health; animals on duty, such as dogs and horses; blank cartridges,
cartridges with rubber, plastic or shock bullets; devices for coercive stopping of motor
vehicles; devices for opening of premises, light or sound devices having a diverting
effect; water or air jet machines; armoured machines and helicopters.
(3) The procedure of using such auxiliary means shall be established by
Minister of Interiors regulation.
Art. 73. (1) Physical force and auxiliary means shall be applied only after
warning, except for the cases of sudden attack or liberation of hostages.
(2) The application of physical force and auxiliary means shall be relevant to
the specific situation, the character of violation of the public order and the
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lawbreakers identity.
(3) In applying physical force and auxiliary means the police organs shall be
obliged to, if possible, protect the health and take any measure to preserve the life of
the relevant persons.
(4) The application of physical force and auxiliary means shall stop
immediately after the purpose of such measure has been achieved.
(5) The application of physical force and auxiliary means in respect of visibly
juvenile persons and pregnant women shall be prohibited. Such prohibition shall not
be valid in cases of mass rioting, if all other means have been exhausted.
Art. 74. (1) The police organs may use weapons as extreme measure:
1. in an armed attack or threat by fire-arms;
2. in the liberation of hostages and handicapped persons;
3. following a warning - to detent a person who is committing or has
committed a crime of a general nature, if such person offers resistance or tries to
escape;
4. following a warning - to prevent the escape of a person who was legally
detained for a committed crime of a general nature.
(2) When using weapons the police organs shall be obliged to, if possible,
protect the life of the person, against whom such weapon is directed and shall not
endanger the life and health of other persons.
(3) The police organs may use weapons without warning in cases of national
border protection as follows:
1. in an armed attack against them;
2. against persons who offered armed resistance.
(4) In the national border protection within the bounds of inland waters and
the territorial sea of the Republic of Bulgaria the police organs shall be entitled to use
weapons in the cases provided in the Maritime Spaces, Internal Waterways and Ports
Act of the Republic of Bulgaria.
(5) Following the use of weapons the police organs shall produce reports.
Art. 75. (1) The police organs shall issue permits and certifying documents in
the cases and under the procedures as provided by law or another normative act.
(2) For the permits and certifying documents issued charges shall be collected
in the amount determined by the Council of Ministers.
(3) (Amend. - Official Gazette, No. 30/2006, in force since 12.07.2006). The
refusals to issue permits or certifying documents shall be appealed under the
Administrative Procedure Code.
Art. 76. (1) For protection by police organs of objects, contracts may be
concluded between the MoI and the interested persons.
(2) For protection by police organs of objects equipped with alarm and
security devices, contracts shall be concluded between the MoI and the interested
persons.
(3) For protection by police organs of sport competitions or other mass

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activities, as well as of other events or activities of short-term character, contracts shall
be concluded between the MoI and the interested persons.
(4) To provide the activity related to protection of objects by police organs
within the limits of the approved MoI numerical strength, officers shall be appointed
for the term of validity of the contract.
(5) The receipts and expenditures related to the activities under Para 1, 2 and
3 shall be allocated to the MoI budgetary accounts.
Art. 77. The Regional Police Directorates shall be entitled to conclude
contracts with persons performing activity under the Private Security Act, for carrying
out:
1. protective investigation of objects;
2. training of officers from the units for self-protection.
Art. 78. (1) The police organs shal be entitled to accommodate in sobering
establishments persons who for having used spirits or other intoxicating substances are
not able to control their behaviour, violate the public order or were found in public
places in helpless state.
(2) The police organs shall immediately, but not later than within 24 hours,
notify the relevant public prosecutor about the persons who have been accommodated
in sobering establishments.
(3) The sobering establishments shall be determined by the Minister of
Interior in agreement with the mayors of the relevant municipalities.
(4) The organization, functions and activity of such sobering establishments
shall be regulated by regulation signed by the Minister of Interior and the Minister of
Health.
Art. 79. (1) The police organs shall be entitled, with a permit issued by the
public prosecutor, to accommodate persons leading a nomadic life or involved in
begging, in homes for temporary accommodation of adults.
(2) The term for staying in homes for temporary accommodation of adults
shall be up to 30 days, in dependence of the time required for their accommodation in
health institutions, hostels, and homes for old people or handicapped persons, or for
putting them under judicial disability.
Art. 80. The police organs may accommodate in special homes for temporary
accommodation foreigners, subject to coercive bringing to the border of the Republic
of Bulgaria, or to deportation.
Art. 81. (1) The organization, functions and activity of the homes for
temporary accommodation of adults shall be regulated by regulation signed by the
Minister of Interior, in agreement with the General Public Prosecutor.
(2) The organization, activity and procedure of accommodation in special
homes for temporary accommodation of foreigners shall be regulated by regulation

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signed by the Minister of Interior.
Art. 82. The police organs shall watch, establish and control objects and
persons, where there are data that they prepare, commit or have committed crimes,
including in cases of organized criminal activity performed by local or transnational
criminal groups or organizations.
Art. 83. The police organs shall use special intelligence devices, under
conditions and procedures as provided by law.
Art. 84. The police organs shall get assistance and organize the cover of
officers and their activity at public authorities, organizations and legal entities in a
procedure established by Council of Ministers Ordinance.
Art. 85. (1) The police organs for national border protection shall:
1. deploy forces and means, build, employ or remove technical equipment and
other means;
2. realize passport and visa control and perform examinations of commodities
and vehicles passing the border check-points;
3. stop, detain and perform examinations of Bulgarian and foreign ships and
vessels which violated the rules of stopping and staying in the territorial sea, in inland
waters, the adjacent zone, the continental shelf or the Bulgarian part of the river of
Danube;
4. stop, detain and perform examinations of Bulgarian or foreign aircrafts if
violations of the border regimen have been stated, or if the flight security is
endangered, together with the specialized units;
5. chase breakers of national borders beyond the border zone, together with
other MoI services;
6. detain smugglers, illegally transported goods and vehicles which passed
beyond the places established and make examinations, together with the customs
authorities;
7. restrict temporarily or forbid the traffic of persons and vehicles in zones
and objects under Art. 52, Para 3, when oerforming operative search in order to detain
persons or vehicles and if there is danger to the life and health of people;
8. take, accompany and deliver breakers of the national borders from and to
the neighbouring border authorities and to other states, in compliance with the law and
with international treaties, to which the Republic of Bulgaria is a party;
9. install and use technical means for surveillance and photographing, the
results of which may be used only for prevention or discovery of crimes or violations,
including for prevention or discovery of illegal passing the national borders, of crimes
or violations in the territory of the border check-points directed against the passport
and visa regimen, or of threats to the security of the personnel, buildings or the
services installations;
10. accommodate cmpulsory in special premises or in special homes
foreigners who violated the border regimen and are subject to coercive bringing to the
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border or to deportation, as provided by law.
(2) The National Police Service Director, in agreement with the Minister of
Foreign Affairs and in compliance with the international treaties, shall appoint border
representatives to settle border violations.
Art. 86. At fulfilling their powers the police organs shall be obliged not to
defame the dignity of the citizens and shall respect their rights and legal interests.
Art. 87. (1) The National Police Service shall setup and maintain data
collections, if required for its activity, at which the Service shall collect, process, store
and use information acquired during or on the occasion of fulfilling its relevant
functions.
(2) The information under Para 1 shall be delivered to other organs through
the channels established by Minister of Interiors regulation.
Art. 88. The National Police Service shall obtain from the MoI Services and
Directorates information, in connection with the execution of the Services functions.
Art. 89. At fulfilling the protection of strategic and especially important
objects the police organs shall be entitled to:
1. deploy forces and facilities, build, employ or remove technical equipment
and other means of protection;
2. utilize communication facilities or cut them off.
Art. 90. At fulfilling the administrative control of foreigners stay in the
Republic of Bulgaria the police organs shall:
1. propose measures for regulation of migration processes;
2. allow, refuse or withdraw the right of long stay or prolong the term of stay
for foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria;
3. establish administrative violations and implement measures of
administrative pressure;
4. deliver opinions on applications for acquisition, restoration or release of
Bulgarian citizenship, for issue of visas or other permits to foreigners as provided by
law;
5. cancel visas or cut down the terms of foreigners stay in the country fixed
by visas, if the latter fail to meet the legal requirements;
6. perform activity in connection with the issue of foreigners travel
documents who belong to diplomatic or consular representative services of other states
in the Republic of Bulgaria.
Art. 91. (1) In the liberation of hostages, detention or neutralization of
perpetrators of especially dangerous crimes, if the latter offer or are inclined to offer
armed resistance and in conformity with the specific operative-tactical situation, the
police organs shall be entitled to:
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1. use fire weapons and other means added to the armory, as well as special
protective means guaranteeing their personal security and cover of their identity;
2. split areas, stop or divert the traffic of vehicles and temporarily cut off
telecommunication connections;
3. protect MoI organs, public authorities and organizations In compliance
with their functions.
(2) The officers performing activities under Para 1 and their families shall
enjoy a special regimen of address registration, registration of personal cars and
telephones as determined by the Minister of Interior.
(3) The identity of the officers performing activities under Para 1 shall be kept
secret.
(4) The use of officers performing activities under Para 1 shall be allowed by
written order signed by the National Police Service Director, for each individual case.

Chapter Eight
NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY AND PROTECTION OF
POPULATION SERVICE
Section I
Tasks and Activities
Art. 92. (1) The National Fire Safety and Protection of Population Service
shall be a specialized MoI service for fire safety and protection of population in case
of fires, calamities, accidents or catastrophes.
(2) The National Fire Safety and Protection of Population Service shall
perform activity independently or together with other public authorities, organizations
and citizens.
Art. 93. (1) In compliance with the tasks under Art. 92 the National Fire
Safety and Protection of Population Service shall realize:
1. fire fighting activity;
2. rescue activity;
3. public fire-prevention control;
4. preventive activity;
5. applied research and expert activity;
6. information analysis;
7. international activity;
8. permissive and controlling activity in respect of traders performing fire
fighting or rescue activity, or fire-prevention inspection of objects;
9. other activities as provided by law.
(2) The procedure of performing activities under Para 1 shall be established
by Minister of Interior regulations.

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Art. 94. The fire fighting activity shall cover:
1. assessment of the methods, ways and means of fire fighting;
2. development of plans on accidents liquidation;
3. immediate sending of forces and means if there are reports on fire;
4. rescue of people and property;
5. limitation and liquidation of fires;
6. offering of first medical care to victims;
7. organization of victims transportation to health institutions.
Art. 95. The rescue activity shall cover:
1. assessment of the methods, ways and means of performing such activity;
2. immediate sending of forces and means if there are reports on disasters,
accidents or catastrophes;
3. limitation and liquidation of the aftermaths of disasters, accidents or
catastrophes;
4. rescue of people, property and valuables;
5. offering of first medical care to victims;
6. organization of victims transportation to health institutions.
Art. 96. (1) The public fire-prevention control shall cover:
1. control over the observance of rules and norms on fire safety in the process
of design, construction, reconstruction, modernization and exploitation of objects in
urbanized, agricultural, forest, protected or violated territories subject to restoration,
and of buildings and technical equipment and installations;
2. control over the production, import, trade or exploitation of products,
machinery and installations in connection with their fire safety;
3. participation in public admittance commissions to allow utilization of
buildings;
4. issue of certificates and accomplishment of certification examinations of
the objects compliance with the fire safety requirements;
5. coordination of projects and delivering of opinions on comissioning of
buildings;
6. control over the compliance of the assessed products, equipment,
automation, fire-fighting means and others with the fire safety requirements.
(2) In order to determine the rules and norms on fire safety in the process of
design, construction, reconstruction, modernization and operation of the objects in
urbanized, agricultural, forest, protected or violated territories subject to restoration,
the Minister of Interior shall independently or together with the Minister of Regional
Development and Urbanization produce regulations.
Art. 97. The prevention activity shall cover:
1. informative and explanatory activity among the people in order for them to
form the required behaviour and acts in case of fires, calamities, accidents or
catastrophes;
2. coordination and cooperation with public authorities and organizations in

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connection with training the people in acting in case of fires, calamities, accidents or
catastrophes;
3. publishing activity in the field of fire safety and orotection of population.
Art. 98. The applied science and expert activity shall cover:
1. development of rules and norms on securing fire safety and protection of
population;
2. scientific information service and preparation of applied science products
in the field of fire safety and protection of population;
3. examination of the reasons and conditions concerning the origin and spread
of fires, accidents or disasters;
4. development of methods and means of prevention and liquidation of fires,
accidents or disasters;
5. examination and assessment of parameters of the fire characteristics of
substances, materials and products;
6. assessment of the reaction to fire and the limits of fire resistance of
materials, building materials and installations, and drafting of records;
7. assessment and drafting of records concerning the technical and
physicochemical characteristics of fire equipment and fire-fighting substances;
8. assessment of products and rescue installations compliance with the fire
safety requirements;
9. certification of products providing fire safety;
10. accomplishment of expert examinations of fires and accidents;
11. coordination and development of projects and types of fire prevention
equipment, installations, devices, facility, fire-fighting substances and fire-resistant
products.
Art. 99. (1) The information analysis activity shall cover: collecting,
processing, storing, analyzing, using and providing of information concerning:
1. originated fires, accidents, disasters or catastrophes and the activity
performed by the Service;
2. preventive and administrative penal measures;
3. strategic and especially important objects;
4. fire prevention and rescue equipment, armament and fire-fighting means;
5. plans on the liquidation of aftermaths of fires, accidents, disasters or
catastrophes;
6. permits issued to traders involved in fire fighting or rescue activity, or fireprevention inspection of objects.
(2) The National Fire Safety and Protection of Population Service shall setup
and maintain data collections based on the information acquired at fulfilling the
Services functions.
(3) The information under Para 1 shall be delivered to public authorities,
organizations, legal entities and citizens having legal interest and reason to acquire
such information - under the conditions and procedures established by Minister of
Interiors regulation. The non-budgetary maintained legal entities and the citizens shall
pay charges in the amount determined by the Council of Ministers.

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Art. 100. The international activity shall cover:
1. organization, coordination and representation of the MoI in the cooperation
with related international institutions and organizations in the field of fire safety and
protection of population;
2. development of programs and projects concerning international funds;
3. involvement in training and sending of rescue teams to international
missions.
Art. 101. The permissive and controlling activity over traders performing fire
fighting or rescue activity, or fire-prevention inspection of objects, shall cover the
issue of permits and control over the observance of the requirements in performing
such activities.

Section II
Competences of the Organs
Art. 102. The organs of the National Fire Safety and Protection of Population
Service shall be public officers.
Art. 103. In the process of fire fighting and people and property rescuing in
case of fires, accidents, disasters or catastrophes the organs under Art. 102 shall be
entitled to:
1. enter any time residential, production and other buildings and premises of
physical or legal entities;
2. destroy buildings or parts of them, disassemble structures, remove, destroy
or damage property, trees or other plantations, if there is no other way of operation;
3. use rescue, fire-fighting, transport, communication or other technical
means which are the property of physical or legal entities;
4. attract officials and citizens to render assistance;
5. change the traffic order in the arena of rescue and fire-fighting acts, until
arrival of the relevant competent organs;
6. use water sources and water supply networks for free, in order to provide
the required quantities of water for fire fighting.
Art. 104. (1) In the process of exercising public fire-prevention control the
organs under Art. 102 shall:
1. perform examinations and control over the observance of the rules and
norms on fire safety in the process of design, building and exploitation of objects in
inhabited localities;
2. perform examinations in dwellings of citizens during daytime in the
presence of their dwellers in case a report in writing has been received concerning the
violation of the rules and norms on fire safety, and in the case of their absence or
refusal - after a permit was issued by a judge from the relevant Court of first instance;
3. issue written instructions concerning implementation of the fire safety rules
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- to public authorities, organizations, legal entities and citizens;
4. implement measures of administrative pressure if violations of the rules
and norms on fire safety have been established;
5. give warning to public authorities, organizations, legal entities and citizens
in case of violation of the rules and norms on fire safety;
6. if there are data of a crime committed, give warning to the relevant public
prosecutor;
7. require from public authorities, organizations, legal entities and citizens
documents and intelligence related to securing fire safety; the information they
obtained in such cases shall be kept secret;
8. require qualification documents for practicing of combustible or explosive
professions and activities;
9. issue permits to traders involved in combustible or explosive activity;
10. deliver opinions on the compliance of investment projects with the fire
safety requirements;
11. issue certificates of the objects compliance with the fire safety
requirements;
12. deliver opinions to allow the exploitation of buildings under the
conditions of Art. 177 of the Territory Organization Act;
13. control the materials and installations put into the objects, for their
compliance with the fire safety requirements;
14. issue permits to traders for practicing fire fighting or rescue activity or
fire-prevention inspection of objects and exercise control over the observance of the
conditions under such permit issued.
15. issue documents concerning the fire safety of objects, buildings,
installations, facilities and other upupon request by physical or legal entities, if this is
provided in a normative act.
(2) For the certificates, opinions and other documents issued, charges in the
amount determined by the Council of Ministers shall be collected.
(3) (Amend. - Official Gazette, No. 30/2006, in force since 12.07.2006). The
refusals to issue certificates or permits shall be appealed under the Administrative
Procedure Code.
Art. 105. The organs of the National Fire Safety and Protection of Population
Service shall not perform:
1. fire fighting and rescue activity in objects of underground mining;
2. public fire-prevention control in objects of underground mining, of the
Ministry of Defense and of vehicles, except for agricultural equipment and the railway
stock.
Art. 106. The public authorities, organizations, legal entities and citizens shall
be obliged to observe the instructions given by the organs of the National Fire Safety
and Protection of Population Service and shall render assistance In compliance with
their powers.

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Section III
Performing Activity to Secure Fire Safety under Contracts and by
Subjects beyond the Organs of the National Fire Safety and
Protection of Population Service
Art. 107. (1) To provide fire safety of objects by organs of the National Fire
Safety and Protection of Population Service, contracts should be concluded between
the MoI and the interested persons.
(2) To provide fire safety of mass events, as well as of other arrangements or
activities of short-term character by organs of the National Fire Safety and Protection
of Population Service, contracts should be concluded between the MoI and the
interested persons.
(3) To provide the activities under Para 1 within the limits of the approved
MoI numerical strength, officers should be appointed for the contracts term of
validity.
(4) The receipts and expenditures for the activities under Para 1 and 2 shall be
allocated to the MoI budgetary accounts.
Art. 108. (1) The Minister of Interior or officials empowered by the latter
shall issue or withdraw permits to traders for practicing fire fighting or rescue activity
or fire-prevention inspection of objects.
(2) The persons practicing directly the activity of traders shall meet the
following requirements:
1. shall have the required professional qualification;
2. shall not be convicted for intentional crime of a general nature except in
case they were rehabilitated;
3. shall not suffer from mental disorder.
(3) The permit issued for practicing the activities under Para 1 shall be taken
away in the cases where:
1. within three months following the receipt of such permit the trader fails to
provide the required minimum of technical means or personnel for practicing such
activity;
2. in performing such activity, the trader fails to maintain the required
minimum of technical means or personnel, or if the trader maintains the employment
of a person contrary to the requirements under Para 2, and within one month from
receipt of a warning in writing fails to remove the established incompliance.
(4) The procedure of issue or withdrawal of permits to practice fire fighting or
rescue activity, or fire-prevention inspection of objects by such traders, of stating the
required professional qualification, as well as the minimum of technical means and
personnel, shall be established by Minister of Interiors regulation.
(5) For the issue of permits under Para 1, charges shall be collected in the
amount determined by the Council of Ministers.
Art. 109. The Regional Fire Safety and Protection of Population Directorates

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shall be entitled to conclude contracts with traders who received permits under Art.
108, Para 1, for the following:
1. training of persons involved directly in fire fighting or rescue activity, or in
fire-prevention inspection of objects;
2. methodological assistance in the organization of the objects fire and
emergency safety.
Art. 110. (1) In a procedure determined by the Council of Ministers, on the
territory of inhabited places and municipalities, voluntary units to support the organs
of the National Fire Safety and Protection of Population Service should be established
for the following:
1. prevention, limitation and liquidation of fires;
2. limitation and liquidation of aftermaths of disasters, accidents or
catastrophes;
3. rescue of people and property.
(2) The participants in voluntary units under Para 1 shall have the rights under
Art. 103, items 1, 2 and 6 and under Art. 37, 38 and 39 of the Management in Crises
Act.

Chapter Nine
SPECIALIZED DIRECTORATES
Section I
Tasks and Activities
Art. 111. (1) The Operative and Technical Information Directorate shall
accomplish secret operative engineering activity, at which the Directorate shall:
1. provide, develop or implement special intelligence devices and produce
material evidence, under conditions and procedures as provided by law;
2. watch, penetrate, photograph, implement video and sound recording, film,
or mark articles, and produce psychological analysis in view of collecting data of
committed crimes, and protection of the national security and public order;
3. perform operative-technical examination of mail or other correspondence
for the purposes of preserving the life, health and security of citizens and protecting
the national security and public order;
4. control data transmission and receipt of information through wire
communications;
5. prevent through technical methods terrorist acts directed against public
authorities, organizations, legal entities and citizens, as well as against strategic
objects and activities;
6. perform information activity.
(2) The Operative and Technical Information Directorate shall manage and
control the activity of its territorial units.

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Art. 112. The Intercommunications Directorate shall provide the special
communication means required by the public authorities and the MoI, at which the
Directorate shall:
1. study, design, develop and implement new systems, technical installations
and means in intercommunication equipment;
2. provide special and operative intercommunication for public authorities
and the MoI in the territory of the entire country;
3. plan and organize the operation of the intercommunication system and
realize its management, control and automation;
4. operate, maintain and service the technical installations and means in the
intercommunication system;
5. organize the interconnections required for performing of events and
trainings of public authorities and the MoI Services and Directorates;
6. organize hiring of installations and services from licensed
telecommunication operators;
7. prepare the intercommunication system for wartime, disasters or
production accidents;
8. cooperate with the MoI National Services and Specialized Directorates,
with public authorities, organizations and legal entities in connection with the
execution of such functions;
9. perform information activity.
Art. 113. (1) The Communications Facilities Protection Directorate shall be
an organ in charge for the cryptograph security of classified information in the
Republic of Bulgaria and in its diplomatic and consular representative services,
involved in acquisition, systematization and processing of information from foreign
sources in the interest of the national security, and operative control of the national
radiofrequency range, at which the Directorate shall:
1. assess and develop cryptograph algorithms and means for the cryptograph
security of classified information; approve and control the cryptograph networks of
classified information; elaborate and assign the cryptograph keys used; allow and
control the production and import of cryptograph security facilities;
2. accomplish accreditation and issue certificate of security for automated
information systems or networks used for working with classified information;
coordinate and control the activity of protection against spurious electromagnetic
radiation from technical facilities for processing, storing or transmitting classified
information;
3. organize and realize the communications of the Republic of Bulgaria with
its diplomatic and consular representative services and the cryptograph security of the
exchanged information, provide the necessary personnel for the departmental units,
and the diplomatic and consular representative services;
4. acquire, process and systematize the information using technical facilities
from technical sources of other states, in the interest of the national security and
deliver such information to users as provided by law and by Minister of Interiors
order;
5. discover and prevent utilization of the national radiofrequency range
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against the countrys security or contrary to laws, and cooperate with the competent
organs;
6. control and remove sources of radio interference in the radiofrequency
range, assigned if required for the national security and defense of the Republic of
Bulgaria;
7. secure and implement special intelligence devices and produce material
evidence, under conditions and procedures as provided by law;
8. accomplish operative search activity;
9. cooperate with other MoI Services and with specialized public authorities,
as well as with related services from other states and international organizations within
the term of their reference;
10. perform information and analysis activity, and then delivered the materials
to the MoI Leadership, the Ministrys Services and Directorates and to other organs, in
the manner determined by the Minister of Interior.
(2) The Offices shall provide financially the activity of the units under Para 1,
item 3 and at the diplomatic and consular representative services.
(3) The organization of the activity under Para 1, item 3 shall be established
by Council of Ministers Ordinance.
(4) For fulfilling the functions under Para 1, items 4 and 5, the
Communications Facilities Protection Directorate shall develop and implement
specific methods and means.
Art. 114. The Operative Search Directorate shall accomplish secret operativetechnical activity for the discovery and documentation of committed crimes, including
for the preparation of material evidence, at which the Directorate shall:
1. realize surveillance of persons and objects and assist in the prevention of
crime committing;
2. carry out tracking of persons;
3. produce records, film and photograph persons and objects;
4. control telephone calls made from public telephones;
5. secure by employing specific methods and special intelligence devices the
life, health and property of physical persons;
6. perform operative study of persons and objects;
7. manage and control the activity of its territorial units;
8. participate in joint events with the competent MoI structural units in the
discovery and prevention of crimes;
9. participate in training of officers from the intelligence and
counterintelligence services of the Republic of Bulgaria;
10. setup and use its own data collection, as a part of the MoI information
system;
11. store material evidence produced by the Directorate and deliver such
evidence to the relevant judicial authorities, on their demand.
Art. 115. The Inspectorate Directorate shall:
1. realize control over the enforcement of the Minister of Interior
administrative acts, as well as of the ones of the Deputy Ministers and the Secretary
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General;
2. deliver opinion concerning the removal of offences and omissions in the
work of the main MoI structural units;
3. render assistance in the organization and working methods of the
leadership of the main MoI structural units;
4. realize control and render methodological assistance in the work of the
main MoI structural units directed to counteract corruption at the Ministry;
5. perform, independently or together with other public authorities,
information and organizational activity directed to counteract corruption at the MoI, as
well as for discovering of other forms of corrupt behaviour of MoI officers.
Art. 116. (1) The Information and Archives Directorate shall:
1. receive, register and process documents prepared by the MoI Services and
Directorates, at which the Directorate shall setup funds for temporary or permanent
storage;
2. propose to the Minister of Interior archive documents, in order to remove
their level of classification;
3. search and collect documents and articles related to the MoI history, and
shall perform exposition activity;
4. restore and conserve archive documents and setup archive funds;
5. produce analytical and statistical references and reports based on data from
operative reports, if required by the MoI Leadership and the operative units;
6. deliver information and documents to the MoI Leadership, the MoI
Services and Directorates, to public authorities, organizations and legal entities,
through the channels established;
7. Issue. certifying documents and deliver documents to citizens through the
channels established, for which charges shall be collected in the amount determined by
the Council of Ministers;
8. realize organizational and methodological guidance and control over the
state and storage of documents and the organization of archives offices at Services and
Directorates in their field of activity;
9. propose to the Minister of Interior a draft normative act concerning the
procedure and way of destroying documents not comprising classified information;
10. together with other MoI Services and Directorates produce draft
normative acts in their field of activity;
11. manage and control its territorial units.
(2) The Information and Archives Directorate shall organize and be in charge
with keeping the MoI operative report under the procedure determined by the Minister
of Interior.
(3) The MoI archive fund shall be stored at the Information and Archives
Directorate, by observing the requirements of the Public Archives Fund Act and the
Classified Information Protection Act.
Art. 117. The Crisis Management and Defense Mobilization Directorate shall:
1. develop and maintain the plan for making the MoI ready to operate in
wartime, the mobilization plan, wartime plan and the MoI plan for management in
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crises;
2. plan the MoI participation in the countrys defense;
3. organize the construction and operation of the systems at the MoI control
stations and their maintenance in operative and technical readiness for use;
4. develop and propose for approval projects of wartime structures and staffs
in accordance with the MoI functions in wartime;
5. organize and control the formation and maintenance of MoI crisis and
wartime reserves;
6. plan, assign and account for the financial means assigned to training in
mobilization and defense, and organize the elaboration of the MoI wartime draft
budget;
7. organize and control the activity of the operative duty centers and
detachments to maintain the MoI readiness to report the Ministrys readiness to
operate in the conditions of crises or war, state of war or state of emergency;
8. assist the activity of the MoI Leadership in managing the forces and means
of the Ministry in the conditions of crises or war, state of war or state of emergency;
9. plan, organize, manage and control training in mobilization and the
realization of mobilization at the MoI structural units;
10. organize and carry out training of the MoI leadership in managing the
Ministry forces and means, to make them ready to work in the conditions of crises or
war, state of war or state of emergency;
11. plan, organize, manage and control training of the MoI structural units in
working in the conditions of crises or war, state of war or state of emergency;
12. realize the MoI cooperation with other public authorities in matters
concerning the readiness for operation in the conditions of crises or war, state of war
or state of emergency;
13. control the readiness of the MoI structural units for operation in the
conditions of crises or war, state of war or state of emergency;
14. in the process of making ready for working in wartime shall implement
the measures planned, the wartime plan and budget, organize the work of the control
stations, as well as their protection and defense;
15. organize, manage and control the activity of the MoI structural units in the
process of planning, expenditure and reporting for the financial means earmarked for
reaction in crises and produce a summarized report on the funds spent by the MoI
during crises, which shall be subject to refunding from the public budget.
Art. 118. The Coordination and Information Analysis Directorate shall:
1. organize the execution of the MoI Leadership orders;
2. coordinate the managerial plans of the National Services and Specialized
Directorates;
3. collect, process, systematize, store, analyze, assess, use and deliver
information obtained by the MoI, the National and Specialized Services, including by
setting-up and using of automated data collections;
4. perform analytical prognostication and research information activity in the
field of internal security and public order;
5. deduce priorities in the provision of information to the MoI;
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6. design, develop and implement new information technologies;
7. construct the information and system environment required for the
operation of the automated data collections setup;
8. perform expert activity in the field of computer technologies;
9. realize cooperation with the automated information systems of other public
authorities;
10. accomplish registration of the MoI automated data collections;
11. organize and control the MoI correspondence, as well as the compliance
with the requirements for working with documents and other information carriers
comprising classified information;
12. realize the operative and organizational-methodological guidance of the
MoI units on duty;
13. organize the MoI reception room;
14. realize the methodological guidance and control of similar units in the
Services and Directorates in the field of their activity.
Art. 119. The Legal and Normative Service Directorate shall:
1. render legal assistance to the MoI Leadership;
2. protect the MoI interests in front of judicial and other authorities, at which
the Directorate shall organize, assign and entrust such activities also to the relevant
similar units at the Specialized MoI Directorates, which shall not be legal entities;
3. participate in the preparation of projects and opinions on normative acts;
4. make comparative legal studies and perform legal analytical activity;
5. participate in negotiations for the conclusion of contracts on behalf of the
MoI and deliver opinions on such contracts conformity with the law;
6. render methodological guidance, legal assistance and control of the similar
units of the MoI Services and Directorates in the field of their activity;
7. organize the examination of the results in the implementation of the
normative acts and deliver proposals to the leaders for their improvement or for taking
measures for their correct implementation.
Art. 120. The International Cooperation Directorate shall:
1. organize the MoI cooperation with the relevant authorities of other states;
2. organize and realize the MoI cooperation with international organizations;
3. collect, process, store and deliver information concerning the MoI bilateral
and multilateral collaboration;
4. together with other MoI structural units carry out training, analysis and
assessment of international agreements on behalf of the MoI and propose conclusion
of such agreements;
5. coordinate the international MoI operation with the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs;
6. assist the activity of the MoI Leadership in the field of European
integration;
7. coordinate the participation and participate in the work of labour organs at
the European Union institutions within the MoI competence;
8. produce opinions and coordinate the preparation of opinions delivered by
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the main MoI structural units in the field of European integration;
9. participate in the development of draft normative acts related to the
harmonization of Bulgarian legislation with the European Union legislation within the
MoI terms of reference.
Art. 121. The Press Center and Public Relation Directorate shall:
1. organize the MoI cooperation with the civic society structures;
2. deliver information concerning the execution of the MoI functions;
3. perform editorial-publishing and cultural-information activity.
Art. 122. The Human Resources Directorate shall:
1. assist the MoI Leadership in the management of human resources;
2. plan and organize career development at the MoI;
3. organize competitions for initial entry into public office at the MoI;
4. organize and carry out competitions for promotion in the same or a higher
category;
5. plan and organize the officers professional training;
6. coordinate the development and propose for approval projects on the
structures and staff numbers of the main MoI structural units;
7. analyze and control the state of discipline and the implementation of
disciplinary practice in the main MoI structural units, and implement disciplinary
proceedings in severe disciplinary cases;
8. collect, process and store information concerning the MoI officers, at
which the Directorate shall setup and maintain files and an automated information
system;
9. examine appeals and applications by officers concerning professional
matters and produce proposals for their settlement;
10. issue certifying documents.
Art. 123. The Provision of Financial Resources Directorate shall:
1. assist the Minister of Interior in the Ministers capacity of supreme
superintendent for the MoI budget;
2. prepare the draft budget and periodic financial statements;
3. in agreement with the main MoI structural units produce annual plans for
their funding, and exercise current financial control;
4. develop draft normative acts in the field of material and financial provision
of the main MoI structural units and the implementation of normative mechanisms for
paying the personnels labour.
Art. 124. The Logistics and Social Services Directorate shall:
1. realize the supply in time of peace and time of war with armament,
logistics and clothing for the MoI Services and Directorates;
2. realize the exploitation, repair and storage of armament, equipment and
other MoI property;
3. organize the social services and other service activities designed for
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officers;
4. organize the construction and utilization of the building and residential
fund and the MoI communal-general service;
5. take stock of, record and control running of the MoI public property,
including a register of the trade companies established on the base of property which
is private public property, in respect of which the Minister of Interior shall exercise the
rights of single capital owner;
6. organize the design and performance of capital construction, building of
objects to satisfy the MoI official needs, as well as of residential, holiday and hospital
funds.
Art. 125. (1) The Revisions Directorate shall examine as follows:
1. the conformity with the law and credibility of collection, storage,
managing, expenditure and reporting on the MoI property;
2. the conformity with the law and credibility of accountancy;
3. the execution of the obligations to the budget;
4. the protection of the MoI property interests in selling or hiring out of used,
unnecessary or old materials, technical equipment, spaces under buildings and other;
5. the observance of currency regimen;
6. the implementation of normative acts concerning the budgetary, financialeconomic and accounting activity concering the objects under revision.
(2) Upon the Minister of Interiors instruction or of an official empowered by
the Minister the Revisions Directorate shall accomplish financial control and control
over the activity of the liable persons in all MoI structural units.
(3) In the performance of the activities under Para 1 the Revisions Directorate
organs shall be entitled to:
1. have access to objects under revision;
2. examine the monetary and tangible assets, the accountancy, documents and
technical carriers of information, as well as the purpose of its collection and the
software;
3. appoint experts on matters requiring special education and knowledge, at
which their remunerations shall be at the expense of the objects under revision;
4. require information, copies of documents, account statements and other
data from legal entities and single traders beyond the object under revision, as well as
make two-way financial accounting examinations there, if required for the revision.

Section II
Competences of the Organs
Art. 126. The organs of the Directorates under Art. 111 - 125 shall be public
officers.
Art. 127. (1) At fulfilling their functions the Directorates under Art. 111 114
shall:

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1. produce material evidence under conditions and procedures as provided by
law;
2. pass obligatory instructions for rendering assistance to public authorities,
organizations, legal entities and citizens;
3. notify the other MoI Services and Directorates, public authorities and
organizations under the conditions and procedures established by Minister of Interiors
regulation;
4. obtain information from other MoI Services and Directorates, from public
authorities, organizations, legal entities and citizens;
5. require the provision of access to the technical means and installations of
public authorities, organizations, legal entities and citizens.
6. attract citizens for voluntary collaboration.
(2) For fulfilling their functions the Directorates under Art. 115 125 shall:
1. render methodological assistance to and control of similar units in other
MoI Services and Directorates;
2. require information and utilize the MoI information system.
Art. 128. In performing the activities under Art. 111, Para 1, item 5 the organs
of the Operative and Technical Information Directorate may cut-off
telecommunication connections.
Art. 129. In the execution of their functions under Art. 113, Para 1, items 5
and 6 the organs of the Communications Facilities Protection Directorate shall:
1. perform examinations and establish administrative violations;
2. shall be entitled to access the objects, where radio installations or radio
broadcasting facilities are located;
3. require from the persons examined documents, authenticated copies of
documents, intelligence and references in connection with the realization of such
controlling activity;
4. require from third persons documents, intelligence and other data required
for performing the examinations.

Chapter Ten
MOI ACADEMY, MOI MEDICAL INSTITUTE AND RESEARCH
AND APPLIED SCIENCES INSTITUTES
Art. 130. The MoI Academy shall be a higher school for professional
education of specialists and for scientific examinations for the MoI needs.
Art. 131. (1) In compliance with the functions under Art. 130 the MoI
Academy shall:
1. organize and conduct education directed to the acquisition of educationalqualification degrees, and of educational and scientific degree of higher education;

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2. organize and carry out professional training of MoI officers;
3. perform theoretic and applied scientific examinations;
4. develop editorial-publishing activity;
5. develop applied research, sporting and other activities in accordance with
their specifics.
(2) The professions and the term of education at the MoI Academy, as well as
the procedure of acquiring qualification, shall be determined by the Council of
Ministers, at suggestion by the Minister of Interior and the Minister of Education and
Science.
(3) The conditions and the procedure of carrying out professional training for
MoI officers shall be established by Minister of Interiors regulation.
(4) The conditions and procedures of admitting trainees to acquisition of
educational-qualification degrees, or the educational and scientific degree of higher
education shall be established annually by Minister of Interior regulation, in
agreement with the Minister of Education and Science.
Art. 132. (1) At the MoI Academy, centers for specialization and professional
training may be established.
(2) The organization and activity of the centers of specialization and
professional training shall be established by organizational regulations approved by
the Minister of Interior.
Art. 133. At the MoI Academy specialists for the needs of other institutions
may be educated, based on contracts concluded between their leaders.
Art. 134. (1) The MoI Medical Institute shall organize and realize the activity
concerning the MoI public health, at which the Institute shall carry out:
1. medical service of MoI officers and of other persons determined in the
Rules on the Implementation of this Act;
2. clinical treatment, rehabilitation and ambulatory-policlinic activity;
3. health prophylaxis activity;
4. research and scientific-educational activity;
5. expert activity;
6. collaboration with higher medical schools, with hospitals and health
institutions;
7. methodological activity;
8. qualification and re-training to maintain and improve the qualification of
the medical personnel;
9. medical certification of applicants for entry into MoI office.
(2) The Central Expert Medical Commission shall produce medical
conclusions concerning the health state of the MoI officers.
Art. 135. The Research and Applied Sciences Institutes shall be specialized
MoI units of for fulfilling of tasks as follows:
1. design, development and implementation of new automation technologies
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based on modern computation, communication and software;
2. design of specific technical means, certifying signs, seals and stamps;
3. carrying out of psychological examinations in connection with the
appointment to a service and career promotion of MoI officers;
4. collection, examination and assessment of tracks and material evidence.
Art. 136. (1) For fulfilling the tasks under Art. 135 the Research and Applied
Sciences Institutes shall:
1. perform applied research and expert activity;
2. produce products of applied sciences;
3. setup data collections;
4. make criminalistical and criminological examinations;
5. participate in the investigation of crimes in the cases provided by legal
status;
6. develop methodologies directed to prevention and discovery of crimes;
7. conduct methodological guidance and control of scientific-technical
laboratories established within the structures of the National Police Service.
(2) If for performing an expertise an expert who is MoI officer has been
appointed, the offices and organs who appointed such expert examination shall pay to
the MoI the expenses incurred for the work, consumables and overheads.
Art. 137. (1) The organs of the MoI Academy, the MoI Medical Institute and
the Research and Applied Sciences Institutes shall be public officers and persons,
employed under labour cntract who make expert judgement, experiments and deliver
conclusions.
(2) Organs shall be also the MoI Medical Institute, the Research and Applied
Sciences Institutes and the Central Expert Medical Commission when they issue
permits and deliver expert conclusions.

Chapter Eleven
OPERATIVE SEARCH ACTIVITY
Section I
Principles of Operative Search Activity
Art. 138. (1) Operative search activity is the activity directed to protection of
the national security and the public order in the Republic of Bulgaria, of the life,
health, rights, freedoms and the property of citizens against criminal violations.
(2) The activity under Para 1 shall be performed by the MoI operative search
and operative-technical structural units through public and secret methods and means
in conformity with their competence under conditions and procedures as provided by
law, by Council of Ministers administrative act and by the Minister of Interior.
(3) The activity under Para 1 shall be performed in observance of the

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Constitution and the laws, respect for the rights and freedoms of the citizens and their
dignity and implementation of the principle of conspiracy in combining public and
secret methods and means.
Art. 139. The operative search activity shall have for its goal as follows:
1. discovery, prevention and break of crimes and other violations related to
the national security and the public order;
2. establishing the identity of persons who are preparing, performing or have
performed criminal activity;
3. search for persons hiding from sentencing prosecution or evading to serve
their term of punishment in cases of a general nature, as well as search for missing
persons;
4. acquisition of information of acts creating threats to the national security
and the public order;
5. preparation and storage of evidential materials and their provision to the
relevant judicial authorities.
Art. 140. (1) The operative search activity shall be performed through:
1. taking explanations of citizens;
2. making inquiries in data collections concerning persons involved in
criminal activity;
3. taking of samples for comparative examination;
4. marking of objects and articles;
5. examining of articles and documents;
6. conducting surveillance;
7. identifying persons and objects;
8. penetrating and examining premises, buildings, installations, vehicles and
parts of localities;
9. controlling mail, telegraph or other correspondence;
10. controlling telephone calls;
11. collecting information from technical channels of communication;
12. operative implementation;
13. operative experiment;
14. dispatching oral or written warnings to stop violations of the legal order;
15. operative examination of the data collected and data documentation;
16. realization of controlled deliveries and confidence transactions;
17. accomplishment of two-way examinations according to documents;
18. controlling the radiofrequency range;
19. issue and use of identity papers with changed particulars of officers under
cover;
20. establishment and utilization of non-profit organizations or business
companies under the conditions and procedures as provided by law, to cover activity in
investigations with officer under cover or operations under covere, for fulfillment of
the tasks under item 16.
(2) The activity under Para 1 shall be performed using specific methods and
means, special intelligence devices, as well as citizens who accepted voluntary
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collaboration with the MoI services for the fulfillment of their functions.
Art. 141. The conditions and procedures of using special intelligence devices
shall be provided by law.
Art. 142. (1) The service of officers under cover shall be realized only by MoI
officers appointed by the Minister of Interior.
(2) The procedure of using officers under Para 1 shall be established by
Council of Ministers Ordinance.
Art. 143. (1) Voluntary collaborators shall be used only by specialized MoI
organs empowered under this Act.
(2) The collaboration with citizens for fulfilling the MoI functions shall be
regulated by Minister of Interiors instructions.
(3) The attraction and activity of the persons under Para 1 shall be realized by
observing the following principles:
1. voluntarism in the attraction, work and discharge;
2. protection during or on the occasion of collaboration;
3. keeping in secret the identity and other personal data, as well as the
collaborators activity.
(4) Data concerning persons who accepted voluntary collaboration with the
MoI organs shall be provided to the Court and the prosecutors office only after the
persons written consent, in connection with specific penal proceeding and by
observing the provisions of the Classified Information Protection Act.
Art. 144. The reasons for performing operative search activity shall be:
1. data obtained concerning persons who prepare, are committing or have
already committed criminal acts, if such data are not sufficient for the instigation or
initiation of penal proceedings;
2. data obtained concerning events or acts creating threat to the national
security or the public order;
3. search of persons, hiding from the organs of penal proceedings or evading
from serving their punishment imposed under cases of a general nature;
4. search of missing persons and identification of dead bodies with nonestablished identity;
5. demand by the organs of pre-trial proceeding and the Court;
6. demand by organs and organizations, in accordance with their competence
by law;
7. implementation of international treaties, to which the Republic of Bulgaria
is a party.
Art. 145. The material evidence prepared and collected in the process of the
operative search activity, shall be submitted to the relevant judicial authorities, under
conditions and procedures as provided by law.

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Art. 146. In performing the operative search acts, it is inadmissible to harm
life, health, dignity or property of the citizens, as well as to pollute or damage the
environment.

Section II
Competences of MoI Organs Performing Operative Search Activity
Art. 147. The MoI organs performing operative search activity shall be public
officers from the operative search and operative-technical units at the relevant
National Services and the Specialized Directorates under Art. 111 - 114.
Art. 148. (1) The organs performing operative search activity shall issue
obligatory instructions to public authorities, organizations, legal entities and citizens
within the limits of their competence.
(2) The public authorities and organizations shall be obliged to allow for the
organs under Para 1 access to official premises, technical units and other property.

Chapter Twelve
PREVENTIVE ACTIVITY
Art. 149. The MoI organs shall perform general and individual preventive
activity against offences at which they, if required, issue instructions to public
authorities, organizations, legal entities and citizens.
Art. 150. (1) For fulfilling the functions under Art. 149 the Minister of
Interior, at suggestion by the National Services Directors, shall pass orders in writing
and introduce temporary restrictions in the performance of activities, if they endanger
the national security or the public order.
(2) The orders under Para 1 shall be passed:
1. to prevent committing of crimes or violating the public order in specific
public places;
2. in case of riots or direct danger of rising riots;
3. to preserve the life, health and property of the citizens if a general danger
of calamities or production accidents arose;
4. in implementing quarantine measures, at suggestion by the health
authorities.
(3) The restrictions under Para 1 shall not be applied to strikes, gatherings,
meetings and manifestations carried out under the established procedure.
(4) As concerns the orders under Para 1 the Mayor of the relevant
municipality or the Chairperson of the Towns Council shall be immediately informed.
The orders shall be made public through the mass media or in another appropriate
manner.
(5) The orders under Para 1 may be attacked by the interested persons and
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organizations to the Supreme Administrative Court within 7 days, via the Minister of
Interior. The Minister of Interior may cancel such order within 24 hours following the
receipt of such appeal, and if the Minister finds no reasons for cancellation, the latter
shall send it directly to the Court. The Court shall examine the appeal in open session
and shall announce judgment within three days following the appeals reception.
(6) The orders validity shall terminate upon expiration of their term, if the
relevant reasons dropped out, or by a Court judgment under Para 5.

Chapter Thirteen
INFORMATION ACTIVITY
Section I
Principles of Information Activity
Art. 151. The organization of the MoI information activity, organs in charge
of its management, and control and use of information shall be regulated under this
Act.
Art. 152. (1) The information activity shall cover: collecting, processing,
systematizing, storing, analyzing, utilizing and providing of information to MoI users,
public authorities, organizations, legal entities and citizens, in accordance with the
MoI operative competence.
(2) For fulfilling the tasks and activities under this Act, the main structural
units under Art. 9 shall be entitled to collect also personal data.
Art. 153. (1) The information activity shall be based on information, recorded
or subject to recording on information carriers prepared by MoI organs.
(2) The information activity shall be based also on information from
information carriers prepared and provided by other public authorities, organizations,
legal entities and citizens, as well as by specialized services of foreign states, with
which the Republic of Bulgaria signed agreements on collaboration.
Art. 154. The list of categories of information subject to classification as
official secret shall be established by Minister of Interiors order.

Section II
Information Activity: Principles and Goals
Art. 155. The information activity shall be based on the following principles:
1. conformity with law;
2. objectivity, completeness and timeliness;

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3. accessibility uder the procedures as provided by law;
4. organizational and economic expedience;
5. combination of centralism and decentralism in data storage and utilization;
6. information cooperation and the obligation of informing the MoI structural
units in accordance with their functions;
7. protection of the information, documents and means to work with them,
and of the information carriers;
8. possibility to integrate data into data collections and of mutual integration,
by considering the activitys specifics;
9. protection of the citizens personal data in data processing.
Art. 156. The main objectives of the information activity shall be related to
the provision of information for:
1. the MoI needs;
2. the interdepartmental and parliamentary control over the MoI information
activity;
3. the public authorities and local self-government in the field of security and
public order;
4. external users.
Art. 157. (1) Collection of citizens information based solely on racial
characteristics or ethnic origin, on political, religious or philosophic views, on
membership in political parties, organizations, associations with religious, philosophic,
political or syndicalism goals, as well as on their health or sexual life shall be
prohibited.
(2) If in realizing the right of a physical person to access, personal data
concerning a third person would be revealed, the personal data administrator shall be
obliged to allow access of the relevant physical person to such part of the information
that concers only that person.
(3) The delivery of information to public authorities, organizations, legal
entities and citizens by MoI officers beyond the legal procedures shall be prohibited.

Section III
Data Collections
Art. 158. (1) At the MoI, information and analytical documents and products
shall be produced and developed which are designed for:
1. the MoI Leadership;
2. the MoI Services and Directorates;
3. external users.
(2) The information and analytical documents and the products designed for
external users shall be in conformity with their functions and tasks based on the
assigned access to information and requirements for its reception.

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Art. 159. (1) At the MoI, data collections and units in charge for collecting,
processing, systematizing, storing, analyzing, preparing and providing information
shall be setup.
(2) In the MoI data collections, personal data may be processed. In personal
data processing related to activities concerning the protection of the national security
and the counteraction to criminality, the MoI organs shall:
1. not require the consent of the relevant physical person;
2. not notify such physical person before and during processing of personal
data;
3. not provide personal data to third persons;
4. store data after completion of processing within the terms established by
the personal data administrator.
(3) In the MoI data collections also personal data may be processed which
were processed by other organs, at which the data so obtained shall not be used for
other purposes, except for protection of the national security, maintenance of public
order or counteraction to criminality. Such data shall not be re-transferred.
(4) During setting-up of data collections and in the process of data processing,
internal identification codes, data coding and encrypting may be used.
(5) The personal data under Para 2 and 3 shall be deleted, if there is no more
reason to store them further, under legal status or in compliance with a judicial act.
(6) When deleting personal data the age of the physical person, the character
of the personal data processed, the necessity of further processing till completion of
the specific investigation or legal procedure, final judgement or judicial ruling,
amnesty, rehabilitation or expiration of the period of limitation shall be taken into
consideration.
(7) Personal data from data collections may be delivered only to organs in
charge for protection of the national security and the public order, as well as to judicial
authorities if required for a specific penal case.
(8) Data under Para 7 may be delivered also to foreign police organs in virtue
of an international treaty, to which the Republic of Bulgaria is a party.
Art. 160. (1) Data from police registration of persons shall be used only for
prevention or discovery of crimes or for activities related to protection of the national
security and the public order.
(2) A police registration shall be removed based on written order by the
personal data administrator, or by officials officially empowered by the latter, or
following a reasoned written request of the registered person, in case: .
1. such registration was made contrary to law;
2. the penal proceedings were terminated, except for the cases under Art. 24,
Para 3 of the Penal Procedure Code;
3. the exculpatory judgement entered into force;
4. the person was freed of penal liability and an administrative punishment
was imposed;
5. the person died; in this case such request may be made by the persons
heirs.

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Art. 161. (1) The data collections shall be setup at the relevant MoI Services
and Directorates in conformity with their operative competence.
(2) The data collections under Para 1 may be setup also in automated form.
(3) The data collections shall be setup, used, controlled or closed down under
the conditions and procedures determined by the Minister of Interior and by legal
status.
(4) Any person shall be entitled to require access to personal data processed in
MoI data collections and collected without the persons knowledge.
(5) The personal data administrator shall deliver decision within 14 days
following such request for access.
(6) Upupon request by a physical person a copy of the personal data
processed shall be delivered on paper.
(7) The MoI organs shall entirely or partially refuse delivery of data, if a risk
for the national security or the public order may arise, or for safeguardingof
information classified as State or official secret, for revealing the sources of such
information or the secret methods and means for data collection, or if delivery of such
data to a person would harm the execution of tasks legally assigned to the MoI organs.
(8) The notification to the applicants concerning the refusal under Para 7 shall
be made in writing, at which only the legal reason shall be given. The lack of
notification within the terms provided by legal status shall be regarded a refusal.
(9) (Amend. - Official Gazette, No. 30/2006, in force since 12.07.2006). The
refusal under Para 7 shall be subject to appeal under the Administrative Procedure
Code.
(10) The procedure concerning access to the data collections under Para 1
shall be established by Minister of Interiors regulation.

Section IV
Information Activity Management Organs
Art. 162. (1) The MoI information activity shall be managed by the Minister
of Interior supported by the Coordination and Information Analysis Directorate.
(2) The Deputy Ministers and the Secretary General shall manage the activity
under Para 1 in conformity with the functions of management entrusted to them.
(3) The direct organization and management of information activity shall be
realized by the Directors of Services and Directorates supported by the specialized
information units.
Art. 163. (1) Personal data administrator within the meaning of the Personal
Data Protection Act shall be the Minister of Interior, who shall entrust personal data
processing to officials appointed by the latter.
(2) The procedure of personal data processing shall be established by Minister
of Interiors instruction.

Section V
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Control of Information Activity

Art. 164. (1) The Parliamentary control of automated data collections shall be
realized by the National Assembly Standing Commission.
(2) The Commission under Para 1 shall accomplish examination of the
criteria and technical norms concerning setting up of data collections and shall be
entitled to require representative excerpts with no names or other data on whose base
individuals may be established.
(3) The Commission shall be entitled to order deletion of the data collected
contrary to law.
Art. 165. The control over protection of the physical persons rights in
processing their personal data and realization of the access to such data shall be
exercised by the Protection of Personal Data Commission, under the conditions and
procedures established by the Personal Data Protection Act.
Art. 166. The interdepartmental control of the information activity shall be
realized by the MoI Leadership and by the leaders of the main structural units in
compliance with their powers.
Art. 167. In the realization of control over the information activity the rules
concerning the protection of classified information shall be observed.

Part Three
PUBLIC OFFICE AT THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR
Chapter Fourteen
MAIN PRINCIPLES OF PUBLIC OFFICE MANAGEMENT AT
THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR
Art. 168. The entry into public office at the MoI and the officers professional
development shall be based on the following principles:
1. transparency - implementation of clear and precise criteria of assessment
and procedural rules concerning the appointment, professional development and
termination of official relations;
2. publicity - announcement of the procedures and mechanisms concerning
the selection and development in the career;
3. competition principle - securing objectivity in the consideration of
professional qualities, experience and qualification;
4. discrimination ban;
5. equal possibilities of any officer to develop in the career;
6. implementation of motivation mechanisms for professional development;
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7. centralized planning and management of selection and professional career.

Chapter Fifteen
MINISTRY OF INTERIOR OFFICERS
Section I
Legal Status of MoI Officers
Art. 169. (1) Officers of the MoI shall be:
1. the public officers;
2. the persons employed under labour cntract.
(2) The MoI public officers legal status shall be regulated by this Act.
(3) The legal status of the persons employed under labour cntract shall be
regulated under the conditions and procedures of the Labour Code and of this Act.
Art. 170. (1) The MoI public officers, in accordance with the functions they
fulfill and the qualification they have shall carry out a MoI public office in one of the
following categories:
1. Category A - topmost managerial personnel;
2. Category B - managerial personnel
3. Category C - expert personnel with managerial functions;
4. Category D - expert personnel;
5. Category E - executive personnel with supervisory functions;
6. Category F - executive personnel
(2) The categories under Para 1 concerning public officers with police
education shall have specific designations:
1. Category - Chief Commissioner;
2. Category B - Commissioner;
3. Category C - Chief Inspector;
4. Category D - Inspector;
5. Category E - Chief Police Officer;
6. Category F - Police Officer.
(3) The categories under Para 1 concerning public officers with education in
fire safety and protection of population shall have specific designations:
1. Category A - Chief Commissioner;
2. Category B - Commissioner;
3. Category C - Chief Inspector;
4. Category D - Inspector;
5. Category E - Chief Firefighter;
6. Category F - Firefighter.
(4) The categories under Para 1 concerning public officers with education in
the protection of national security shall have specific designations:
1. Category A - Chief Commissioner;
2. Category B - Commissioner;
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3. Category C - Chief Inspector;
4. Category D - Inspector;
5. Category E - Chief Collaborator;
6. Category F - Collaborator.
(5) The categories B, D and F shall have each three degrees reflecting the
officers professional experience.
(6) The newly coming public officers who shall be subject to obligatory initial
professional training shall be appointed as probationers for the period of the training.
(7) The Minister of Interior shall approve the MoI Office Classifier, which
shall be published in the Official Gazette.
Art. 171. (1) The structure and offices of the MoI structural units shall be
comfirmed by the Minister of Interior within the limits of the approved numerical
strength and budget.
(2) In the lists of staffs the categories, designations of offices, type of
competition, requirements for minimum education or educational qualification degree,
the qualification and the numerical strength of the MoI structural units shall be
specified.
Art. 172. (1) The MoI officers shall take oath for observance of the
Constitution and the countrys laws and for loyalty to the public institutions in the
Republic of Bulgaria.
(2) The MoI officers shall not be entitled to belong to political parties, be
involved in political activity, express political views, or undertake other acts on duty,
resulting in infringement of their political neutrality.
Art. 173. The public officers shall be banned from participation in uniform in
gatherings, meetings or manifestations of political parties, including during extra
office hours, except if they exercise their tradeunion rights under this Act.
Art. 174. In case the attendance security measure detention under custody
was imposed to a public officer, the Minister of Interior shall be immediately notified.
Art. 175. (1) At fulfilling their powers the MoI public officers shall attest their
capacity by a service card or a personal badge. The type of such service card or
personal badge shall be determined by the Minister of Interior.
(2) The Minister of Interior shall determine the type and model of uniform
clothes, the procedure of their provision and carrying, as well as of other accessories
related to execution of the public officers official obligations, where the symbols and
distinguishing signs of the MoI structural units shall be set.
(3) The distinguishing signs of the public officers uniform clothes correspond
to the category held.
(4) It shall be forbidden for persons not empowered by law to use uniform
clothes, symbols and distinguishing signs, police lamps, camouflage hoods or legends

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introduced for the MoI structural units and showing the affiliation to such units.
(5) The public officers shall bear service weapons under the conditions and
procedures established by Minister of Interiors instruction.
Art. 176. (1) When fulfilling official obligations outside their working place,
the public officers shall be obliged to maintain connection with their leaders.
(2) The public officers shall be obliged to fulfill obligations ensuing from the
MoI functions also beyond their official working time. They shall be obliged to
interfere in order to assist persons, who are in danger, and to prevent or break offences.
Art. 177. (1) The MoI public officers shall not fulfill another public office,
except in the cases established by this or another Act.
(2) The public officers shall not perform any activity inconsistent with their
service.
(3) Inconsistency with the MoI service will exist if the public officers:
1. happen to be in hierarchic connection of management and control with a
spouse, relative in direct line with no limits, in collateral line up to the fourth degree
inclusive, or by affinity up to the fourth degree inclusive;
2. are single traders, partners in a trade company, managers or executive
members of a trade company, proxies, procurators, commercial representatives;
3. are involved in commercial activity;
4. work under employment contract or contract for work done, except for the
realization of scholastic activity;
5. participate in managerial and supervisory bodies of business companies.
(4) Not to be regarded commercial activity within the meaning of Para 3, item
3 shall be the participation in privatization on privatization vouchers and in
cooperative societies if participating with agricultural lands or forests with restituted
property rights.
(5) Inconsistency with the MoI service will exist also in cases where public
officers were elected deputies, mayors or municipal advisors.
(6) Inconsistency with the MoI service will not exist in the cases under Art.
44, Para 1, item 5 and Art. 84, as well as in the participation in business companies
whose principal is the Minister of Interior, or in non-profit organizations established to
perform socially useful activity.
(7) Within 7 days following the origin of circumstances under Para 1, 3 and 5
the public officers shall be obliged to file declaration.
Art. 178. (1) The public officers shall be obliged to, every year before 31
March and based on a model approved by the Minister of Interior, declare in writing to
the relevant body under Art. 186, Para 1 any commercial, financial or another business
interest they or persons related to them have in connection with the functions of the
structural unit where they are employed.
(2) The public officers shall be obliged not to participate in the discussion,
preparation and making decisions, if they or persons related to them are interested in
the relevant decision or if they have with the interested peoples relations raising

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grounded doubt in their impartiality.
(3) In the cases under Para 2 the public officers shall notify in writing the
relevant organ under Art. 186, Para 1.

Section II
Requirements for Entry into MoI Office
Art. 179. (1) As public officers at the MoI, adults with only Bulgarian
citizenship shall be appointed based on competition who meet the general and specific
requirements for age, education, psychophysical ability and professional education, as
well as other conditions announced in the relevant competition for entry into public
office.
(2) To participate in a competition for entry into public office, persons shall
be admitted who:
1. are not subject to recruiting military service;
2. have not been convicted for intentional crime of a general nature regardless
of their rehabilitation, or who have not been discharged from penal liability for
committed intentional crime of a general nature, for which an administrative
punishment under Art. 78 of the Penal Code has been imposed;
3. have not been brought to justice as accused of intentional crime of a
general nature.
(3) The specific requirements concerning age, education, psychophysical
ability and professional training under Para 1 shall be determined by Minister of
Interiors regulation.
(4) For employement under labour contract, persons shall be admitted who
are Bulgarian citizens and meet the requirements of Para 2, item 2 and 3.

Section III
Appointment to Public Office
Art. 180. (1) Entry into MoI public office shall be preceded by a competition.
(2) The announcement of competition shall be published in the Register under
Art. 61, Para 1 of the Administration Act and in one central or local daily paper.
(3) The competition shall be conducted by a commission in the composition
determined by the Minister of Interiors order, for every case individually.
(4) The conditions and procedures of conducting competitions shall be
determined by Minister of Interiors regulation.
Art. 181. (1) The persons applying for a MoI public office - for offices for
which obligatory initial professional training is required shall enter only the categories
D or F.
(2) The public officers - probationers, who successfully completed the course
of initial professional training, shall acquire the relevant category and they shall be

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appointed to offices within the MoI structural units.
Art. 182. (1) The applicants shall be admitted to competitions by the
Competition Commission. Only persons, who have submitted the relevant documents
and meet the conditions for the relevant competition, shall be admitted to participate.
(2) The Competition Commission shall announce in a generally accessible
way the lists of the admitted and non-admitted applicants, within 7 days following the
final date for filing of documents. The Commission shall indicate the date and place,
and the starting time of the competition.
(3) The non-admittance to participate in a competition shall be subject to
appeal to the Minister of Interior within 7 days from the date of announcing the lists.
The Minister shall express opinion within 7 days. The appeal shall not stop the
competition procedure. The decision on the appeal shall not be subject to judicial
control.
(4) The Competition Commission shall announce in a generally accessible
way the results of the individual stages in the competition and the final position of the
applicants.
(5) The results of the individual stages in the competition and the final
position shall be subject to appeal to the Minister of Interior within three days
following the date of their announcement. If the objections against the final position
are grounded the Minister of Interior shall date a new competition. The decision on
such appeal shall not be subject to judicial control.
(6) After completion of the competition procedure the Minister of Interior
shall issue an administrative act concerning the appointment of the classified
applicants.
Art. 183. The Minister of Interior shall assign ctagories to the MoI public
officers.
Art. 184. (1) The MoI Secretary General and the National Services Directors
shall be appointed by the President of the Republic of Bulgaria, at suggestion by the
Council of Ministers.
(2) The Minister of Interior shall assign the Category , accordingly Chief
Commissioner, to the officers appointed under Para 1 following the issuance of the
Decree by the President of the Republic of Bulgaria.
(3) In case of discharge from offices under Para 1 the public officers shall
retain the assigned Category .
Art. 185. The Minister of Interior shall appoint the public officers:
1. to offices of Category except for the cases under Art. 184, Para 1, as well
as to offices of categories B and C;
2. to offices of Category D for initial entry into public office;
3. probationers.

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Art. 186. (1) The Directors of National Services, of Specialized Directorates,
of the Medical Institute, of Research and of Applied Sciences Institutes and the
President of the MoI Academy shall appoint public officers to offices of the categories
D, E and F, except for the cases under Art. 185, item 2.
(2) The organs under Para 1 shall conclude labour contracts with the persons
employed under labour cntract, under the conditions and procedures of the Labour
Code.
Art. 187. (1) At entry into MoI office the public officers shall take oath and
sign declaration on political neutrality, and declaration on their property and revenue.
(2) The refusal to take oath or to sign the declarations under Para 1 shall
become obstacle for entry into public office.
(3) The declaration on property and revenue shall be filed annually, before 31
March.
Art. 188. (1) The MoI service shall start as from the date of assumption of
office, inclusive for probationers.
(2) Upon initial assigning of a category and appointment to an office, the oneyear probation term for public officers shall run, to be counted from the date of
assumption of office.
(3) The probation term shall not run during the time when the public officer
was in a legally established leave.

Section IV
Passing to Public Office
Art. 189. (1) The professional career of a public officer shall be based on
successive promotion to a next higher category, following a competition and the
relevant professional training.
(2) For promotion to Category , no competition shall be carried out.
(3) The admittance to participation and the classification in a competition for
promotion in category shall be subject to appeal, within 7 days, to the Minister of
Interior. The Minister shall express opinion within 7 days. Such appeal shall not stop
the competition procedure. The decision on the appeal shall not be subject to judicial
control.
(4) The conditions and procedures for promotion in category, as well as in
degrees of the categories B, D and F shall be established by Minister of Interiors
regulation.
Art. 190. (1) The assumption of an office within the category held shall be
preceded by competition.
(2) The types of competitions under Para 1 shall be:
1. competition for offices of general profile;
2. competition for specific offices;
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3. competition for offices of special responsibility.
(3) When carrying out competitions for the assumption of offices of general
profile, the point system for assessing the professional experience, professional
qualification, execution of official obligations, insignia of honour and awards of the
participants in the competition shall be applied.
(4) The competition for specific offices requiring specialized training or
professional skills and experience in specific fields shall be carried out on the base of
documents and in one or several of the following ways:
1. working out a test;
2. practical examination;
3. written concept, or defense of a concept;
4. interview.
(5) The competition for offices of special responsibility shall be carried out on
the base of documents.
(6) The admittance to participation and the classification in the competitions
under Para 2 shall be subject to appeal, within 7 days, to the Minister of Interior. The
Minister shall express opinion within 7 days. The appeal shall not stop the competition
procedure. The decision on the appeal shall not be subject to judicial control.
(7) The conditions and procedures for carrying out competitions for the
assumption of offices within the category held shall be established by Minister of
Interiors regulation.
Art. 191. (1) A public officer may be appointed without competition to
another office within the category held in the following cases:
1. cutting down of office;
2. restitution of an officer discharged illegally;
3. non-satisfactory service results were established, based on assessing the
quality of service;
4. reduced working capacity in fulfilling the official obligations, due to health
reasons;
5. refusal or withdrawal of a permit for access to classified information;
6. existence of circumstances under Art. 178, Para 1 established after the
declaration within the legally fixed term has been filed;
7. if the public officer shall assume an office of special responsibilty;
8. participation in missions of international organizations, as well as upon
completion of such participation;
9. returning from unpaid leave under Art. 212, item 8.
(2) The appointment under Para 1 shall be performed by observing the
following conditions:
1. the new office shall correspond to the category and the professional
qualification of the officer;
2. the new working place shall be in the same location and, if possible, in the
same main structural unit and - failing suitable vacant offices - also in another location
or another main structural unit.
(3) The establishment of the circumstances under Para 1, item 3 and 4 shall be
made in the manner determined in the Rules on the Implementation of this Act.
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(4) In the cases under Para 1, item 7 a public officer who acquired the
Category , may be appointed also to offices provided for Category B, at which such
officer shall keep the acquired Category .
Art. 192. (1) A public officer may be temporary appointed to a vacant office
within the same or the next higher category, until announcement of a competition for
the assumption of office or in the absence of a titular for more than 30 days, in the
manner determined by Minister of Interiors regulation.
(2) A temporary appointment shall be realized by the officers consent, except
for cases of motivated service necessity.
(3) The temporary appointment shall be for a term of up to one year. A
temporary appointment for a longer term may be applied if the titular of such office is
on a legally determined leave for a term exceeding one year.
(4) During a temporary appointment the public officer shall receive a salary
for the category and a salary for the office, as well as extra allowances ensuing from
the office held temporary.

Section V
Professional Training
Art. 193. (1) The professional training of MoI officers shall be carried out in
the form of professional education and professional training.
(2) The professional training at initial entry and at promotion in category shall
be carried out at the MoI Academy.
(3) The professional training of MoI public officers shall be carried out at the
MoI Academy, at MoI Research, and Applied Sciences Institutes, or at other
educational institutions.
(4) The professional training may be carried out also at similar educational
institutions of other states.
Art. 194. (1) The persons admitted to the MoI Academy for the acquisition of
professional education in the regular form of teaching shall have the legal status of
cadets.
(2) The rights and obligations of cadets shall be determined in the Rules on
the MoI Academys Structure and Activity.
(3) The cadets shall be given uniform clothes and a scholarship in the amount
and manner determined by Minister of Interior instruction.
(4) The recruiters admitted for cadets at the MoI Academy shall serve their
military service during the time of teaching.
(5) During teaching the persons under Para 1 shall not be employed for
service at the main MoI structural units except for the purposes of training.
(6) Following the graduation of the cadets they shall be assigned the Category
D and be appointed at the main MoI structural units.

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Art. 195. The regular graduates from the MoI Academy shall be obliged to
serve at the MoI for a term not shorter than 10 years on the grounds of a contract
signed with the Minister of Interior when admitted to teaching.
Art. 196. (1) The successful competitors for entry into MoI office shall be
subject to initial professional training.
(2) The Minister of Interior shall approve the list of offices for which no
initial professional training shall be required.
Art. 197. (1) During initial professional training the probationers shall not be
employed for service at the main MoI structural units except for the purposes of
training.
(2) The rights and obligations of the probationers related to their initial
professional training shall be determined in the Rules on the MoI Academys Structure
and Activity.
(3) The probationers shall undertake to serve in the MoI system for not less
than 5 years following completion of training, on the grounds of a contract signed with
the Minister of Interior or with officials empowered by the latter.
Art. 198. (1) The cadets who were removed from training due to low results,
in a disciplinary procedure, if convicted for intentional crime of a general nature, who
left by their will during teaching, as well as who refused to assume after graduation the
relevant office, shall reimburse to the MoI the expenses for maintenance and training
for the period, in which they were taught.
(2) The expenses under Para 1 shall be reimbursed also by the probationers
who were discharged from office.
(3) The expenses under Para 1 shall be reimbursed also by public officers
whose official relation has been terminated by their will or in a disciplinary procedure,
before they have served the term under Art. 195 and Art. 197, Para 3, in proportion to
the time of non-execution.

Section VI
Remunerations, Material and Social Security of MoI officers
Art. 199. (1) The public officers shall obtain a basic monthly remuneration
formed by the salary for category and the salary for office.
(2) The amounts of salaries for category, as well as the amounts of salaries for
the lowest and the highest office in every category shall be determined by the Council
of Ministers, at suggestion by the Minister of Interior.
(3) The base for fixing the amount of the basic monthly remuneration for the
lowest office shall be fixed annually in the National Budget of the Republic of
Bulgaria Act, at which the monthly remuneration shall be increased by a coefficient
against the base as follows:
1. for the lowest office in the Category D - not less than 2.1;
2. for the lowest office in the Category F - not less than 1.4.

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(4) The probationers shall obtain a monthly remuneration in the amount
determined by the Council of Ministers, at suggestion by the Minister of Interior.
Art. 200. The concrete amount of the salary for office shall be determined by
the Minister of Interior and shall comprise:
1. the remuneration for the level which reflects the place of the relevant office
in the hierarchy;
2. the remuneration which reflects the specific conditions of the working
place.
Art. 201. (1) The public officers shall be paid additional remuneration for
long service, upon the basic monthly remuneration, at the amount of 2 percent for
every year of service, but not more than a total of 40 percent.
(2) When fixing the amount of the additional remuneration under Para 1 the
entire length of service shall be taken into account equated to Labour Category One.
Art. 202. (1) The public officers shall be paid also alllowances for:
1. specific labour conditions - under the conditions and in the amounts
determined by the Minister of Interior;
2. achieved results in the official activity, on the grounds of assessment;
3. extra hours;
4. scientific degree;
5. work under Art. 113, Para 1, item 1, 2 and 4 - in the amount determined by
the Minister of Interior.
(2) The additional remuneration under Para 1, item 2 shall be paid in threemonth periods. The conditions and procedures for the assessment of the officers and
for forming the additional remuneration shall be determined by Minister of Interiors
regulation.
(3) The MoI officers working at the MoI Medical Institute shall obtain also
remuneration for the clinical paths, in agreement with the National Framework
Agreement.
Art. 203. (1) The persons employed under labour cntract shall obtain a basic
monthly remuneration formed by the salary for office and the supplement for working
within the MoI system.
(2) The base for assessing the amount of the basic monthly remuneration for
the lowest office shall be fixed annually in the National Budget of the Republic of
Bulgaria Act, at which the monthly remuneration shall be increased by a coefficient
against the base as follows:
1. for higher education - not less than 1.6;
2. for secondary education - not less than 1.1.
(3) The amount of the supplement for working within the MoI system shall be
determined by Minister of Interiors order.
(4) The persons employed under labour cntract shall obtain also the additional
remuneration under Art. 202, Para 1, item 2.
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(5) The persons under Para 1 shall be paid annually a sum for clothes in the
amount fixed for public officers not bearing uniform, under the conditions and
procedures determined by Minister of Interiors order.
Art. 204. (1) The MoI officers shall be provided with food or its equivalent in
Levs.
(2) The public officers shall be provided with working and uniform clothes
and other material property and outfit, and the public officers not bearing uniform
with the uniform clothes equivalent in Levs.
(3) For performing activities associated with consequences harmful to their
health, the MoI officers shall be provided with protective food and antidotes for free.
(4) When transferred to office in other inhabited localities in the cases
determined by the Minister of Interior, the public officers and the members of their
families shall be paid single compensation and the transport expenses for such
transference.
(5) The officers, as well as the members of the families of public officers
killed at fulfilling their official obligations, who are in strained circumstances, shall be
supported with monetary means in the manner determined by the Minister of Interior.
(6) The amount of the sums and allowances under Para 1 - 5, the conditions
and procedure of their provision shall be determined annually by Minister of Interiors
order.
Art. 205. In case of death of a MoI officer the expenses for burial shall be
born by the MoI in the amount determined by the Minister of Interior.
Art. 206. The obligatory social health insurance of the public officers shall be
at the expense of the Republican Budget.
Art. 207. The labour of the public officers when going into pension shall be
considered as Labour Category One.
Art. 208. (1) The MoI officers shall be obligatory insured against death,
temporary incapacity for work or permanently lost or diminished working capacity
due to an accident, at the expense of the Republican Budget.
(2) The obligatory insurance shall not be obstacle to the conclusion of other
insurance contracts by the interested persons.
Art. 209. When fulfilling their official obligations the MoI public officers
shall travel for free in the public city transport.
Art. 210. The public officers living in a dwelling hired in market conditions
shall be paid by the MoI compensations, under the conditions and procedures
determined by the Council of Ministers.

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Section VII
Working Time and Leaves
Art. 211. (1) The normal length of working time for the MoI public officers
shall be 8 hours daily and 40 hours weekly, in a 5-day working week.
(2) For public officers, who shall perform their official obligations in harmful,
dangerous or specific working conditions, reduced working time shall be established.
(3) The working time of the public officers shall be calculated in working
days calendar days, and for the ones working in 8, 12 or 24-hours shifts summed
up in three-month periods.
(4) For the MoI public officers, except for the ones under Para 2 and the ones
working in shifts, irregular working hours shall be established. They shall be obliged,
if required, to perform their official obligations also after expiration of their regular
working time.
(5) The work beyond the regular working time shall be compensated by:
1. additional annual paid leave for the work during working days and
remuneration for extra work if working during weekends and holidays - for the
officers under Para 4;
2. remuneration for extra work for up to 50 hours worked out during the
reported period and additional leave for the time over 50 hours worked out - for the
officers under Para 3.
(6) The extra work under Para 5 shall be paid with a 50 percent increase upon
the basic monthly remuneration.
(7) The procedures of assigning the working time, of reporting and
compensation of the work done by public officers beyond their regular working time
shall be determined by Minister of Interiors instruction.
Art. 212. (1) The MoI public officers shall be entitled to the following types
of leaves:
1. regular annual paid leave - 30 working days;
2. additional annual paid leave - one day for every year served, including for
the equated length of service, but not more than 10 working days;
3. additional annual paid leave under Art. 211, Para 5 - up to 12 working
days;
4. additional annual paid leave when transferred to work in another inhabited
location - up to three working days, which shall not be compensated by money;
5. additional paid leave up to 5 working days per calendar year if awarded
with "announcement of gratitude" by the MoI Minister, Deputy Ministers or the
Secretary General and up to three working days if awarded by leaders of the main
structural units under Art. 186, Para 1;
6. unpaid leave up to 6 months, once during the entire length of service;
7. unpaid leave - for the time of participation in international missions or in
international organizations, on the grounds of treaties, to which the Republic of
Bulgaria is a party;
8. unpaid leave under the procedures of Art. 259;

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9. unpaid official leave under the procedures of Art. 52, Para 1 - 3 of the
Deputy Election Act and Art. 47 of the Local Elections Act;
10. unpaid leave - for the time of practice under Art. 163 of the Judicial
Power Act.
(2) The leaves under Para 1 shall be considered as length of service under this
Act, except in the cases under Para 1, item 10.
(3) For the time of paid annual leave the MoI public officers shall obtain the
basic monthly remuneration and extra allowances of permanent nature, at the amount
valid at the time of beginning of such leave.
(4) It shall be prohibited to compensate the leaves under Para 1, item 1 - 3 and
5 with money, exept upon termination of the official relation.
(5) The travel of MoI officers in the territory of the country during their
annual paid leave shall be at the expense of MoI, once in a year.
Art. 213. (1) The MoI public officers shall be entitled to a leave for working
in conditions harmful to the health, for fulfilled public or civic obligations, for
temporary incapacity for work, for pregnancy, birth or adoption, for breastfeeding and
feeding of a small child, for raising a small child, for death or serious illness of a
parent, for examination for admittance to educational institutions and for training, as
well as to unpaid leave - subject to the conditions, procedures and in the amounts
provided in the Labour Code.
(2) The pregnant MoI public officers shall enjoy special protection under the
Labour Code.

Section VIII
Insignia of Honour and Awards
Art. 214. The MoI officers shall be awarded with insignia of honour and
awards for achieved high results, for specific significant contribution in compliance
with their official obligations or for long service with the MoI system.
Art. 215. (1) Insignia of honours shall be:
1. commendation in writing;
2. announcement of gratitude associated with additional paid leave in the
amounts fixed under Art. 212, Para 1, item 5;
3. honorary MoI distinction;
4. honorary MoI sign.
(2) The awards shall be monetary or material.
(3) The insignia of honour and the awards shall be delivered by the Minister
of Interior and in the cases under Para 1, item 1 and 2 and Para 2, except for fire
weapons also by officers appointed by the Minister.
(4) The conditions and procedures of awarding, as well as the contents of
insignia of honour and awards shall be determined in the Rules on the Implementation
of this Act.

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Art. 216. For having rendered assistance and concrete help to the MoI,
Bulgarian or foreign citizens may be awarded with the honorary MoI distinction and
with monetary or material awards, including with fire weapons.

Section IX
Pre-Trial Investigators
Art. 217. (1) As pre-trial investigators, persons shall be appointed after a
competition, who meet the requirements for entry into MoI office under Art. 179 and
have higher juridical education.
(2) The pre-trial investigators shall be public officers at the National Police
Service.
(3) The pre-trial investigator offices shall be:
1. chief pre-trial investigator;
2. seniour pre-trial investigator;
3. pre-trial investigator;
4. juniour pre-trial investigator.
(4) The successful competitors for offices under Para 3, items 2 - 4 shall be
given Category D, and under Para 3, item 1 Category B or C.
(5) For offices under Para 3, items 2 - 4 also MoI public officers shall be
entitled to apply, who are holders of Category D, and under Para 3, item 1 the
holders of Category B or C.
Art. 218. (1) For assumption of the office of pre-trial investigator, at least two
years of juridical practice or two years of practice as junior pre-trial investigator shall
be required.
(2) For assumption of the office of seniour pre-trial investigator, at least five
years of juridical practice or three years of practice as pre-trial investigator shall be
required.
(3) For assumption of the office of chief pre-trial investigator, at least seven
years of juridical practice or five years of practice as seniour pre-trial investigator shall
be required.
Art. 219. (1) The chief pre-trial investigator shall realize also coordination
and methodological guidance of the pre-trial investigators activity, by keeping track
of the legally correct execution of the investigation, of the execution of the public
prosecutors obligatory instructions and the observance of the term of investigation.
(2) The chief pre-trial investigator shall annually produce assessment of the
work of the juniour pre-trial investigator, the pre-trial investigator and the seniour pretrial investigator, and shall take into consideration also the opinion of the relevant
regional public prosecutor under Art. 118, Para 3 of the Judicial Power Act.
Art. 220. For the promotion in degree or in category, the assessments of the
chief pre-trial investigator and the opinions of the relevant regional public prosecutor
shall be taken into consideration

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Art. 221. The supervising public prosecutor shall be entitled to make
suggestion for awarding a pre-trial investigator for his/her high results or for specific
significant contribution in fulfilling his/her official obligations.
Art. 222. (1) A systematic violation of the terms provided in the Penal
Procedure Code or performance of acts which would unjustifiably delay the penal
proceedings, constitute disciplinary violation.
(2) In existence of a reason under Para 1 is established, the supervising public
prosecutor shall be entitled to make suggestion to the organ under Art. 228 for
imposing disciplinary punishment.
(3) In case a signal for violation of the prohibition under Art. 54, Para 5 has
been received, the public prosecutor shall be entitled to signal the organ under Art.
228.
Art. 223. If not otherwise provided in this Section, the general rules
concerning the MoI public officers shall apply.

Chapter Sixteen
DISCIPLINARY LIABILITY
Art. 224. (1) The MoI public officers who have violated their official
obligations shall be punished with the punishments provided in this Act.
(2) The disciplinary cases shall be:
1. non-execution of the provisions of this Act and of the subdelegated
normative acts passed on the grounds of this Act, of the orders or instructions
delivered by the MoI Leadership or the line managers;
2. non-execution of official obligations;
3. non-observance of the official powers;
4. non-observance of the rules of the Code of Ethical Behaviour of the MoI
public officers.
(3) The MoI public officers shall bear disciplinary liability, regardless of the
fact that their acts may give grounds for searching for another type of liability, as well.
Art. 225. (1) The disciplinary punishments shall be imposed not later than two
months following the discovery of violation and not later than one year following its
realization.
(2) Where the disciplinary violation is also a crime or administrative
violation, the terms under Para 1 shall run from entry into force of the judgement or
the penal provision.
(3) The terms under Para 1 shall not run if the public officer is on a legally
established leave or if the attendance security measure detention under custody, or
home arrest have been imposed to such officer.

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Art. 226. (1) The disciplinary punishments shall be:
1. reprimand;
2. written warning;
3. reproach;
4. non-admittance to competition for promotion in category or in degree, for a
term of one to three years;
5. demotion in rank for a term of up to one year;
6. discharge.
(2) For one and the same disciplinary violation, only one disciplinary
punishment shall be imposed.
Art. 227. (1) The discharge disciplinary punishment shall be imposed
obligatory in the following cases:
1. conviction for intentional crime of a general nature or depriving of the right
to assume a public office;
2. violation of the prohibition of Art. 172, Para 2 or of Art. 173;
3. failure to file the declaration under Art. 177, Para 7;
4. violation of the rules on protection of classified information resulting in a
non-regulated access;
5. non-appearance at work with good reasons in two consecutive working
days;
6. demonstrative non-obedience or instigating to non-obedience, threats or
violent acts against a superior or inferior;
7. abuse of authority or use of the official position for personal advantage or
for third persons advantage;
8. misuse of power or trust;
9. intentional violations of official obligations resulting in significant damage
to the State, the MoI, to legal entities or citizens;
10. accomplishment of other serious disciplinary violation.
(2) In the cases of temporary removal from office under the procedures of the
Penal Procedure Code for committed intentional crimes under cases, which were
closed with absolute verdict, the disciplinary punishment discharge shall be imposed
as from the date of such removal.
Art. 228. The punishments shall be imposed on orders by:
1. the Minister of Interior - for all punishments under Art. 226 concerning the
probationers and officers from the categories , B, C and D, except for discharge
punishment, if the officer has been appointed by decree;
2. the organs under Art. 186, Para 1 - for all punishments under Art. 226
concerning officers from the categories E and F and concerning officers from the
categories , B, C and D except for the punishments under Art. 226, Para 1, items 4
- 6;
3. the officers holding the office "Sector Head", or equated to such office, or
higher - for punishments under Art. 226, Para 1, item 1 - 3;
4. the officers holding the office "Unit Head", or equated to such office - for
the punishments under Art. 226, Para 1, item 1 and 2.
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Art. 229. (1) The disciplinary punishing organ shall be obliged - before
imposing the disciplinary punishment, to listen to the public officer or to accept the
officers explanations in writing, unless for reasons within the power of the public
officer the latter can not be listened or deliver explanations in writing.
(2) When establishing the type and the size of the disciplinary punishments,
the seriousness of the violation and the ensuing consequences shall be taken into
consideration, as well as the circumstances under which it has been committed, the
form of the guilt and the entire behaviour of the public officer during service.
(3) For the discovery of the objective truth, all ways and means allowed by
law shalla be employed.
(4) The punishing organ shall be obliged to collect and assess all evidence,
including evidence collected during audits or other examinations, as well as the
evidence indicated by the public officer.
(5) The disciplinary proceeding shall be carried out in the absence of the
public officer, if this will not hinder the discovery of the objective truth, in case the
public officer:
1. has not been found at the address indicated by the officer or if the latter has
changed such address with no notice to the relevant organ;
2. is abroad, not being on a legally established leave or on business mission,
and has not submitted any good reasons in this respect.
Art. 230. (1) If there are data indicative of committed serious disciplinary
violation under Art. 227, the disciplinary proceeding shall be instigated on written
order issued by the Minister of Interior and a disciplinary case shall be opened.
(2) In the cases under Para 1 the disciplinary proceeding shall be carried out
by disciplinary investigating organs appointed by the Minister of Interior.
(3) The disciplinary investigating organ shall be obliged to perform all
procedural acts directed towards proofing the disciplinary violation. For fulfilling the
functions under the disciplinary proceeding, the disciplinary investigating organs shall
be independent and shall obey only to the law.
(4) The public officer, against whom the disciplinary proceeding shall be
conducted, may participate in the proceeding independently or be supported in the
defense by a MoI officer indicated by the latter.
Art. 231. The procedure of imposing and fulfillment of disciplinary
punishments shall be regulated in the Rules on the Implementation of this Act.
Art. 232. The order concerning disciplinary punishment shall be delivered to
the public officer against signature, marking the date of delivery. In case of
impossibility to deliver in person such order to the public officer, the punishing organ
shall send it to the officers permanent address by registered letter with
acknowledgement.
Art. 233. (Amend.: Official Gazette, No. 30/2006, in force since 12.07.2006).
The order on imposing a disciplinary punishment shall be subject to appeal under the
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Administrative Procedure Code. Such appeals shall not stop execution.
Art. 234. (1) A MoI public officer shall be temporary removed from office:
1. under the procedures of the Penal Procedure Code;
2. when against such officer a disciplinary proceeding has been instigated
under Art. 230 and the officers official position would impede the discovery of the
objective truth; in this case the removal shall be accomplished by the Minister of
Interior;
3. if the officer appears in a state not allowing to fulfill the officers official
obligations; in this case the removal shall be accomplished by the direct or higherranking official and shall continue until the officer restores his/her ability to fulfill
his/her official obligations.
(2) The public officer shall not receive salary for the time of his/her removal.
(3) Where the disciplinary proceeding under Para 1, item 2 has been
terminated or to the officer no disciplinary punishment discharge has been imposed,
the officer shall be paid the remuneration for the time of removal.

Chapter Seventeen
PROPERTY LIABILITY
Art. 235. (1) The MoI public officers shall be property liable for the damages
which they incurred to the State by negligence during or on the occasion of the
fulfillment of their official obligations.
(2) For damages incurred to citizens under the conditions of Para 1, the MoI
public officers shall not bear property liability in respect of the injured. In such cases
the State shall be obliged to compensate the injured for all property and non-property
damages, in compliance with the general rules of the civil law.
(3) For the damages incurred deliberately or as a consequence of a crime or
which were incurred not during or on the occasion of the fulfillment of official
obligations, the liability of the MoI public officers shall be determined in compliance
with the civil law.
(4) The property liability of the MoI public officers shall apply regardless of
the disciplinary, administrative penal or penal liability for the same deed, if such
liability has been provided.
Art. 236. (1) The MoI public officers shall not be property liable for the
damages originated from risky activity related to the execution of their official
obligations.
(2) The State and the MoI public officers shall not be liable for damages to
third persons, when they were caused in the conditions of emergency at performing
acts related to the protection of the national security and the public order, or during
accomplishment of fire fighting or rescue activity.
Art. 237. (1) In respect of the compensations paid for damages incurred to
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citizens due to illegal acts, action or inaction on the part of the organs and officials, the
MoI shall be entitled to raise claims against the officers who incurred such damages
culpably, under the conditions of Art. 235, Para 1.
(2) The State shall be entitled to claims against officers who culpably incurred
damages under the conditions of Art. 235, Para 2, for the compensation paid to the
injured.
(3) Where the officer has fulfilled the official obligations correctly, the State
shall be liable for all property and non-property damages incurred by such officer to
citizens and shall be not entitled to seek from the author recovery of the compensation
paid by the State.
Art. 238. (1) The MoI public officers shall be liable for the incurred damages,
but not for the future earnings.
(2) The size of the damages shall be determined by the date of their
occurrence and if the date can not be established - by the date of their discovery.
Art. 239. (1) For damages incurred under the conditions of Art. 235, Para 1,
the officer shall be liable to the amount of the damage, but not more than one gross
monthly remuneration.
(2) For damages incurred under the conditions of Para 1 by higher managerial
officers, the liability shall be in the amount of the damage, but not more than three
gross monthly remunerations.
Art. 240. (1) The MoI public officers whose official obligation shall be to
collect, store, spend or account for monetary or tangible valuables, shall be liable:
1. at the amount of the damage, but not more than three gross monthly
remunerations;
2. for a lack - at the full amount, together with the legal interest from the date
of incurring the damage and if such date can not be established - from the date of the
lacks discovery.
(2) The persons who have received something, with no reason for it, by the
author of the damage or who have profited from the damage under Para 1, item 1, shall
be jointly liable with the author of the damage to repay the profit obtained, up to the
amount of enrichment. The persons shall owe also the things they obtained as donation
by the author of the damage, if such donation was based on means derived from the
damage incurred.
(3) The claims under Para 1, item 2 and Para 2 shall be liquidated with the
expiration of the 10-year legal prescription as from the date of incurring such damage.
Art. 241. Where the damage has been incurred by several persons, they shall
be liable:
1. in the cases of limited property liability according to the participation of
every one of them in such damage, and where this can not be established - in
proportion to the gross monthly remuneration; the sum total of the compensations they
owe shall not exceed the amount of the damage;
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2. in the cases of full property liability - jointly.
Art. 242. (1) In the cases of limited property liability the persons under Art.
228 shall issue orders concerning the reasoning and the extent of the officers liability.
(2) The order shall be issued within one month following the discovery of the
damage, but not later than one year from its incurring and if such damage was incurred
by a leading officer or at an accounting activity - within three months from its
discovery, but not later than 5 years from such incurring. The above terms shall not
run, if proceedings have been instigated for the enforcement of full property liability,
while such proceeding is pending.
(3) If the officer within one month from the delivery of such order in writing
challenges the grounds or the extent of the liability, the MoI may file a claim at the
Court against such officer.
Art. 243. (1) The full property liability shall be enforced judicially, unless the
public officer pays voluntary the sum in advance to the judicial proceedings.
(2) The claims for full property liability under Para 1 shall be liquidated with
expiration of the 5-year legal prescription, starting to run as from the date of incurring
of the damage. In the above case the legal prescription shall be also terminated by an
act drafted by a control organ, as from the date of its delivery to the officer.
Art. 244. For issues not settled in this Section the provisions of the civil law
shall apply.

Chapter Eighteen
TERMINATION OF OFFICIAL RELATION
Art. 245. (1) The official relation of a MoI public officer shall be terminated:
1. on completing the age limit for service at the MoI - 60 years;
2. on acquiring the right of pension for insured length-of-service and age upon request by the officer or at suggestion by the authority of appointments;
3. for health reasons - for impossibility to the public officer to fulfill the work
entrusted due to illness causing permanent incapacity for work, or for health counterindications;
4. by the officers own will;
5. if the office is cut down;
6. in the case of non-appearance or refusal by the officer to take the office to
which the officer has been restituted, within 14 days from entry into force of the
judicial decision for cancellation of the order on termination of the official relation,
except for cases when such term has not been observed for good reasons;
7. for objective impossibility to fulfill his/her obligations due to:
) entry into force of a judgement by which the punishment deprivation of
freedom has been imposed, if the execution of such punishment has not been
postponed under the procedures of the Penal Code, or if the punishment has been
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imposed under Art. 37, Para 1, item 6 and 7 of the Penal Code and imposing the
disciplinary punishment discharge shall not be obligatory;
b) getting the lowest general assessment concerning the performance of
service;
c) failure to complete the course of initial professional training;
d) failure to file the declarations under Art. 187, Para 3;
e) establishing the existence of circumstances under Art. 179, Para 2, item 2,
if imposing the disciplinary punishment discharge shall not be obligatory;
f) refusal or withdrawal of the permit for access to classified information;
g) establishing of incompatibility in the cases under Art. 177, Para 3;
8. if the disciplinary punishment discharge has been imposed;
9. when passing to elective office in the cases under Art. 177, Para 5;
10. upon termination of a contracts validity or decreasing the number of
officers under a contract concluded on the grounds of Art. 76, Para 1 or Art. 107, Para
1;
11. within the probatory term - due to failure to fulfill the official obligations,
after an assessment of performance was made;
12. with the death of the public officer.
(2) (Amend. - Official Gazette, No. 30/2006, in force since 01.03.2007). The
circumstances under Para 1, item 3 shall be established on the grounds of the decision
taken by the Central Expert Medical Commission, subject to appeal to the
Administrative Court in Sofia, under the procedures of the Administrative Procedure
Code.
(3) In the cases under Para 1, item 9, following termination of the powers of
the elective office, the officer shall be entitled to assume the previous or another office
within the category held.
(4) Termination of official relations in the cases under Para 1, item 3, 5 and 7,
letter "f" shall be allowed only if the officer refuses to assume another office offered
within the category held or if there is no vacant office, suitable for such officer.
(5) The procedure concerning the termination of the official relation under
Para 1 and the establishment of the circumstances under Para 1, item 7, letter "" and
item 11, shall be determined in the Rules on the Implementation of this Act.
(6) The public officers shall preserve the category held in case of subsequent
appointment to public office within the MoI system, except in the cases under Para 1,
item 8, in conjunction with Art. 227, Para 1, item 1.
Art. 246. The orders concerning termination of the official relation of public
officers shall be issued by:
1. the Minister of Interior - for the probationers and for public officers of
categories , B, C and D;
2. the organs under Art. 186, Para 1 - for public officers of categories E and F.
Art. 247. (1) The organ under Art. 246 shall terminate the official relation
under Art. 245, Para 1, item 5 and 7 with one-month notice. In the case of nonobservance of the term of notice, the public officer shall be entitled to compensation
for the non-observed term of notice.
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(2) The order concerning termination of the official relation under Art. 245,
Para 1, item 2 and 4 shall be issued within the term under Para 1. The organ under Art.
246 shall be entitled to terminate the official relation before expiration of such term, at
which compensation shall be paid to the public officer for the time remained.
Art. 248. The MoI public officers shall not be discharged from office during
leave, except in the cases under Art. 245, Para 1, item 1 and 3, as well as in case they
were convicted to custody for intentional crime of a general nature.
Art. 249. (1) The order concerning termination of the official relation shall be
subject to immediate execution.
(2) The official relation shall be terminated on the date of the orders delivery,
except in the cases under:
1. Article 245, Para 1, item 1 and 3 - on the date of the orders issue;
2. Article 245, Para 1, item 12 - on the date of death.
Art. 250. (Amend. - Official Gazette, No. 30/2006, in force since 12.07.2006).
The order concerning termination of the official relation shall be subject to appeal
under the procedures of the Administrative Procedure Code. Such appeals shall not
stop execution.
Art. 251. In case the order concerning termination of the official relation has
been cancelled, the MoI public officers shall be restituted to the previous or to another
equivalent office within the category held and may assume such office, if within two
months from entry into force of the judicial decision they appear at the relevant
service.

Chapter Nineteen
COMPENSATIONS
Art. 252. (1) Upon termination of the official relation the public officers shall
be entitled to compensation amounting to as many monthly remunerations, as many
years they served, but not more than 20.
(2) Where the public officers have served for 10 or more years and their
official relations have been terminated for health reasons, the amount of such single
compensation shall not be less than 15 monthly remunerations.
(3) Upon termination of the official relation under the conditions of Para 2, if
the time served is less than 10 years, such single compensation shall amount to 10
monthly remunerations.
(4) Upon repeated or upon every subsequent termination of the official
relation, from the due compensation determined under the procedures of Para 1 - 3, as
many monthly remunerations shall be deducted, as many have already been received
by the officers assuming offices under Art. 253, Para 1.

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(5) Upon termination of the official relation after 10 or more years served, the
public officers shall be entitled to single additional clothing or to its equivalent in
Levs.
(6) Upon termination of the official relation due to death of the public officer,
the survived spouse, the children and the parents shall be paid the compensations
under Para 1.
(7) The provisions of Para 1 and 5 shall not apply, if the official relation has
been terminated under Art. 245, Para 1, item 8.
Art. 253. (1) In assessing the amount of the compensation under Art. 252, the
years served as MoI public officer, and as public officer - officer, sergeant or civilian
under the abrogated Ministry of Interior Act, shall be taken into consideration
(Promulg. Official Gazette, No. 122/1997; No. 29/1998 - Decision No. 3/1998 of the
Constitutional Court; amendments in issues 70, 73 and 153/1998, issues 30 and
110/1999, issues 1 and 29/2000, No. 28/2001, issues 45 and 119/2002, issues 17, 26,
95, 103, 112 and 114/2003, issues 15, 70 and 89/2004, issues 11, 19, 27, 86, 103 and
105/2005), as an officer under the abrogated 19 of the Transitional and Final
Provisions of the Act Amending the Punishment Execution Act (Promulg. Official
Gazette, No. 73/1998; amend. No. 62/2002), or in military employment, except for the
equated length of service.
(2) Beyond the cases under Para 1 the equated length of service shall be
considered for fixing the single compensation upon termination of the official relation
of MoI public officers due to their going into pension, when they have served the last
13 years and 4 months in offices under Para 1.
Art. 254. (1) Upon illegal termination of the official relation the MoI public
officers shall be entitled to compensation in the amount calculated under the
procedures of Art. 256 by the time of termination, for the time they were left
unemployed, but for not more than 6 months. If during that time they have worked in a
less paid office, they shall be entitled to the difference in the remunerations.
(2) The provision of Para 1 shall apply also in the cases of removal from
office under the procedures of the Penal Procedure Code, if the penal proceedings
against the officers removed were terminated or they have been exonerated, or if the
grounds for their removal have dropped out.
Art. 255. (1) The MoI public officers who suffered from physical injury
during or on the occasion of fulfillment of their official obligations, single
compensations at the amount of 10 monthly remunerations in the case of severe
physical injury and 6 monthly remunerations in the case of medium physical injury
shall be paid.
(2) The survived spouse, the children and parents of MoI public officers killed
during or on the occasion of fulfillment of their official obligations, single
compensations shall be paid to any of them amounting to 12 monthly remunerations.
(3) The type of the physical injury caused shall be determined by the Central
Expert Medical Commission and the circumstances of such physical injury or the

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circumstances of a public officers death shall be attested by his/her direct superior.
(4) In the cases of death of the persons under Para 2, also the compensation
under Art. 252, Para 1 shall be paid.
(5) The compensations under Para 1 and 2 shall be allowed by the Directors
of Services and Directorates.
Art. 256. (1) The single compensations under this Act shall be paid on the
base of the monthly remuneration determined by the date of termination of the official
relation, of removal from office or of establishment of the event under Art. 255 which
shall comprise as follows:
1. the basic monthly remuneration;
2. the extra allowances for long service, for specific working conditions, for
scientific degree and for work under Art. 113, Para 1, item 1, 2 and 4.
(2) The compensations under Art. 252 and 255 shall not be subject to
taxation.

Chapter Twenty
TRADE UNION ACTIVITY
Art. 257. (1) The MoI officers may organize themselves to support and
protect their professional and socio-economic rights.
(2) The public officers shall not belong to other trade-union organizations and
shall not admit to their organizations representatives of persons not working within the
MoI system. The organizations of the public officers shall not belong or be affiliated to
other trade-union organizations outside the MoI.
(3) The organizations of the MoI officers shall protect their interests, without
interfering in the management of the main MoI structural units.
Art. 258. (1) The public officers shall be entitled to hold meetings in extraoffice time, including in uniform:
1. at premises or places belonging to the MoI granted to them by the relevant
leaders who shall determine the conditions of use;
2. at premises closed to outsiders.
(2) The public officers shall be entitled to hold meetings during working time
within the limits of 30 hours annually; their leaders shall be entitled to fix the time and
place of such meetings.
(3) The organizations under Art. 257 shall be granted free use of premises and
suitable places for announcements and other printing materials related to their activity.
Art. 259. (1) The public officers taking leading elective office in any of the
most representative nation-wide organizations under Art. 257 shall go to unpaid leave
based on application to be delivered through the relevant organization. Their number
shall be approved by the Minister of Interior following consultations in the MoI Social
Partnership Council.
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(2) The time under Para 1 shall be considered as length of service under this
Act.
Art. 260. (1) At the MoI a Social Partnership Council shall be established.
The Council shall be guided by the Minister of Interior or by a person empowered by
the latter. In this Council delegates from the organizations under Art. 257 shall be
involved.
(2) The Council shall discuss and conclude agreements to guarantee the rights
of the MoI officers.
(3) The agreements with the persons employed under labour contract shall be
concluded under the conditions and procedures of the Labour Code.

Chapter Twenty One

FINANCIAL RESOURCE PROVISION
Art. 261. (1) The Ministry of Interior shall be funded from the Republican
Budget.
(2) For the financial provision of the MoI activity the Ministry shall prepare a
budget with revenue and expenditure sections.
(3) In the budgets revenue section, resources shall come from:
1. own revenue from charges, services, rents, fines, sales of movable
belongings long-term tangible assets, donations and other as provided by law;
2. subsidy from the Republican Budget.
(4) The expenditure section of the budget shall be developed in compliance
with the complete budgetary classification, as follows:
1. operative expenses;
2. capital expenses;
3. expenses for the National Services;
4. expenses for the Regional Directorates;
5. action plans.
(5) The financial provision of the MoI activity shall be made also from other
sources as provided by statute or by Council of Ministers Ordinance.
Art. 262. The Ministry of Interior shall be the administrator of 10 percent of
the revenue under Art. 240, Para 2 of the Customs Act.
Art. 263. The logistics of the MoI shall cover the following:
1. operative maintenance;
2. delivery, production and repair of machinery and armament, equipment or
other property;
3. design and accomplishment of capital construction, and construction of
residential, building, holiday and hospital funds;
4. management of lands, buildings and installations;
5. social and servicing activities;
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6. other activities related to the protection of the national security and the
public order.
Art. 264. The activities in the field of the MoI logistics shall be performed
under the conditions and procedures of the Public Procurement Act.
Art. 265. The Council of Ministers shall grant to the MoI lands, buildings,
installations or other objects which are public property, to run them.
Art. 266. Real estate and property which are private public property granted
to the MoI for the realization of service and social activities, may be used for
rendering services to physical or legal entities in the manner determined by the
Minister of Interior.
Art. 267. In order to secure the fulfillment of wartime tasks the MoI shall
construct and maintain the objects required for that purpose.

Part Four
MEASURES OF ADMINISTRATIVE COMPULSION
Chapter Twenty One
COERCIVE ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES
Art. 268. For the prevention and cessation of the violations related to the
fulfillment of the obligations under this Act, as well as for the removal of their
negative consequences, the Minister of Interior or the officials empowered by the latter
shall be entitled to stop building, commissioning or operating of objects, installations,
devices or installations, as well as to stop other activities which may pose hazard for
the national security and the public order, cause fires or produce accidents.
Art. 269. (1) (Amend. - Official Gazette, No. 30/2006, in force since
12.07.2006). The order concerning imposing of coercive administrative measures shall
be subject to appeal under the procedures of the Administrative Procedure Code.
(2) The order under Para 1 shall be subject to immediate fulfillment, unless
the Court decrees otherwise.

Chapter Twenty Three

ADMINISTRATIVE PENAL PROVISIONS
Art. 270. (1) The person failing to execute an instruction delivered by a MoI

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organ made in compliance with the organs functions, shall be punished with a fine from
50 to 200 Levs.
(2) For less important violations the MoI organs shall impose fines of up to 50
Levs.
Art. 271. (1) The person who with no good reasons fails to appear in the
places under Art. 47, Para 2 and Art. 60, Para 1, having been orderly summoned, shall
be punished with a fine of up to 100 Levs.
(2) For repeated non-appearance with no good reasons the fine shall be from
100 to 200 Levs.
Art. 272. The person who under the conditions of Chapter Seven, Section II
and Chapter Eight, Section II, with no good reasons, fails to grant to a MoI organ
transport or communication means, shall be punished with a fine from 100 to 200
Levs.
Art. 273. The person who fails to fulfill instructions under Art. 45, Para 2,
written orders under Art. 104, Para 1, item 3 or the orders under Art. 268 shall be
punished with a fine from 200 to 500 Levs.
Art. 274. (1) Physical persons performing activities under Art. 108 without
having a permit, shall be punished with a fine from 1000 to 10 000 Levs.
(2) For a violation under Para 1 a property sanction shall be imposed to
traders at the amount of 10 000 to 50 000 Levs.
(3) For repeated violations the persons under Para 1 shall be punished with a
fine from 10 000 to 20 000 Levs, and under Para 2 - with property sanction at the
amount of 50 000 to 100 000 Levs.
Art. 275. The person who will illegally impede a MoI organ to fulfill the
relevant functions shall be punished with a fine from 500 to 1000 Levs, if such act is
not a crime.
Art. 276. The person who will cause radio interference in the radiofrequency
range assigned for the needs of the national security and defense of the Republic of
Bulgaria shall be punished with a fine from 500 to 1000 Levs.
Art. 277. The person who will illegally retransmit radio traffic within the
radiofrequency range assigned for the needs of the national security and defense of the
Republic of Bulgaria shall be punished with a fine from 500 to 1000 Levs.
Art. 278. (1) Where the violation under Art. 276 or 277 has been committed
by a legal entity or single trader, property sanction at the amount of 1000 to 2000 Levs
shall be imposed.
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(2) Where the violation under Art. 276 or 277 has been repeatedly committed,
fine or property sanction amounting to the double of the amount initially imposed shall
be imposed.
Art. 279. The leaders of public authorities, organizations or legal entities and
citizens who culpably failed to fulfill obligations provided in this Act or in the
subdelegated legislation concerning its implementation shall be punished with a fine
from 200 to 2000 Levs.
Art. 280. (1) For violation of Art. 175, Para 4 by legal entities or single
traders property sanction at the amount of 1000 provided 5000 Levs shall be imposed.
(2) For repeated violation under Para 1 by legal entities or single traders
property sanction at the amount of 5000 to 20 000 Levs shall be imposed.
(3) The things which served for performing the administrative violation or
which have been subject to violation under Para 1 and 2, regardless whose property
they are, shall be taken away in favour of the State.
Art. 281. (1) The deeds concerning the establishment of violations shall be
drafted by the MoI organs.
(2) The penal rulings shall be issued by the Minister of Interior or by officials
empowered by the latter.
(3) The establishment of violations, the issue, appeals and execution of the
penal provisions shall be performed under the procedures of the Administrative
Violations and Punishments Act.

Additional Provisions
1. Within the meaning of this Act:
1. "General danger" shall exist, if a non-established number of persons or a
wide circle of objects have been endangered, depending on the manner of origination,
the affected object, the range of damage and the duration of action.
2. "Activity at fulfillment of official obligations" shall be such activity or
inactivity which shall constitute the fulfillment of obligations ensuing directly from
the office held.
3. "Activity on the occasion of fulfillment of official obligations" shall be
such activity or inactivity which shall not constitute the performance of obligations
ensuing directly from the office held, but precede or follow them in time and are in
direct casual connection with such obligations.
4. "Died during or on the occasion of fulfillment of official obligations" shall
be a person whose death occurred under the circumstances under item 2 and 3.
5. "Removal of police registration" shall be an operation or a set of operations
with data processed for police registration resulting in deletion of data or in destroying
of material carriers of information from documentary funds, or in depersonalization of
data and their use only for the purposes of statistics in automated information systems.
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6. "Repeated" shall be a violation committed within one year from entry into
force of the penal provision by which a punishment has been imposed to a breaker, for
the same type of violation.
7. "Systematic violations" shall be three or more violations committed within
the same year.
8. "Disciplinary case" shall be the collection of documents collected in the
process of disciplinary proceedings for committed serious disciplinary violation under
Art. 227.
9. "Professional education" shall be the acquisition of educationalqualification degrees or of educational and scientific degree of higher education in
fields of higher education, professional sectors and professions for which the MoI
Academy has acquired syllabus accreditation.
10. "Professional training" shall be the acquisition of professional
qualification in connection with the fulfillment of the MoI tasks and activities.
11. "Police training" shall be the initial professional training required for the
acquisition of knowledge and skills required for fulfilling the MoI tasks and activities
concerning the maintenance of public order and counteraction to criminality.
12. "Training in fire safety and protection of population" shall be the initial
professional training required for the acquisition of knowledge and skills needed for
fulfilling the MoI tasks and activities related to the realization of public fire-prevention
control, fire fighting and rescue activity.
13. "Training in protection of the national security" shall be the initial
professional training required for the acquisition of knowledge and skills needed for
fulfilling the MoI tasks and activities related to the realization of the protection of
national security against the activity of foreign special services, organizations and
persons.
14. "Related persons" shall be the persons within the meaning of 1 of the
Supplementary Provision of the Public Officer Act.
15. "Gross monthly remuneration" shall be the sum of the basic monthly
remuneration and the extra allowances of the MoI public officers.

Transitional and Final Provisions

2. The Ministry of Interior Act (Promulg. Official Gazette, No. 122/1997;
No. 29/1998 - Decision No. 3/1998 of the Constitutional Court, amendments in issues
70, 73 and 153/1998, issues 30 and 110/ 1999, issues 1 and 29/ 2000, No. 28/2001,
issues 45 and 119/2002, issues 17, 26, 95, 103, 112 and 114/2003, issues 15, 70 and
89/2004, issues 11, 19, 27, 86, 103 and 105/2005) shall be abrogated.
3. (1) The official relations with the public officers found in office - MoI
officers, sergeants and civilians shall not be terminated, but shall be transformed, as
from the date of entry into force of this Act, at which the public officers shall be
appointed to the offices they held by the time of transforming such relations.
(2) The titles and ranks of the persons under Para 1 shall be removed and they
shall be assigned a category in conformity with the office held, as follows:
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1. Category - to the MoI Secretary General and the National Services
Directors;
2. Category B to the Commander of the Specialized Detachment for
Combating Terrorism, the National Services Deputy Directors, the Directors and
Deputy Directors of Territorial Services, the Directors and Deputy Directors of
Directorates for Specialized and General Administration, the Director and Deputy
Director of the Migration Directorate, the Directors and Deputy Directors of the
Medical Institute, of the Research, and the Applied Sciences Institutes, for the Heads
of Regional Units of the National Police Service, the Heads of Regional Units for Fire
and Emergency Safety, the Heads of Sectors, the Heads of Departments in the
Specialized and General administration, of the Research, and the Applied Sciences
Institutes, for the Heads of Regional Police Offices and Regional Services for Fire and
Emergency Safety at the Metropolitan Directorate of Interior;
3. Category C to the Deputy Heads of Sectors, the Heads of Regional Police
Offices and the Regional Services for Fire and Emergency Safety in the Regional
Directorates of Interior, the Heads of Sectors, to Chief Experts, Chief Legal Advisors,
Heads of Sectors in Regional Police Offices, Heads of Police Sections and of Fire
Prevention Sections, Heads of Units, Experts and Seniour Legal Advisors;
4. Category D to the Chief Inspector, Seniour Inspector, Inspector,
Intelligence Officer, Pre-Trial Investigator, Specialist, Legal Advisor, Junior Legal
Advisor, Radio-Operator, Assistants and Scientific Collaborator of degree III;
5. Category E - to the Board Technician, Junior Intelligence Officer, Junior
Expert, to Team Commander and Detachment Commander;
6. Category F to the Police Officer, Seniour Police Officer, Firefighter,
Seniour Firefighter, Seniour Security Officer, Security Officer, Assistant Ship
Commander, Aeromechanic, Operative Car Driver, Junior Radio-Operator, Office
Manager, Chief Technical Assistant, Seniour Technical Assistant, Housekeeper,
Seniour Technician, Auto Mechanic, Supplier, Car Driver, Store Superintendent, Chef,
Technical Assistant and Technician.
(3) When assigning a category under the procedures of Para 2 the offices
under Para 2, items 1 - 6 and the ones equated to such offices in the classifiers under
Art. 115 of the Rules on the Implemention of the Act, the abrogated Ministry of
Interior Act shall be taken into consideration (Promulg. Official Gazette, No.
113/1998; amend. No. 37/1997, No. 70/1999 - Decisions No. 4049 and No. 4209/1999
of the Supreme Administrative Court, issues 62 and 92/2000, No. 4/2001, issues 8 and
28/2002, No. 39/2003, issues 37 and 65/2004, Decision No. 1219/2005 of the Supreme
Administrative Court on adm. case No. 4773/2004, issues 16 and 96/2005).
(4) When assigning categories under Para 2 to the public officers who have
passed police training, training in fire safety and protection of population, or training
in protection of the national security, as well as categories to public officers holding
offices requiring such training, the relevant designations of the categories under Art.
170, Para 2 - 4 shall apply.
(5) Until determination by the Council of Ministers of the salaries for the
public officers under Art. 199 and 200 the persons under Para 1 shall be paid the
remunerations determined in the existing manner.
(6) The persons whose main monthly remunerations determined under Art.

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199 and 200 are lower than the ones received before entry into force of this Act, shall
maintain the amount of their remunerations. In this case the officers shall receive
personal temporary supplement which shall be included in the main salary under the
conditions and procedures determined by the Minister of Interior.
4. (1) The National Police Service established under this Act shall be the
successor of the assets, liabilities, rights and obligations of the National Police
Service, the National Service for Combating Organized Criminality, the National
Border Police Service the National Gendarmerie Service, the Migration Directorate,
the Interpol National Central Bureau and the Specialized Detachment for Combating
Terrorism.
(2) The Regional Police Directorate, and the Regional Fire Safety and
Protection of Population Directorate established under this Act shall be the successors
of the assets, liabilities, rights and obligations of the Metropolitan Directorate of
Interior and of the Regional Directorates of Interior.
(3) The procedural representation under pending lawsuits of the structural
units under Para 1 shall be accomplished by the National Police Service Director.
(4) The procedural representation under pending lawsuits of the structural
units under Para 2 shall be accomplished by the Director of the Regional Police
Directorate, and the Director of the Regional Fire Safety and Protection of Population
Directorate.
(5) The National Fire Safety and Protection of Population Service established
under this Act shall be the successor of the assets, liabilities, rights and obligations of
the National Fire and Emergency Safety Service.
(6) The procedural representation under pending lawsuits of the National Fire
and Emergency Safety Service shall be accomplished by the Director of the National
Fire Safety and Protection of Population Service.
5. (1) The proceedings instigated for searching disciplinary or property
liability against public officers: officers, sergeants and civilians shall be completed in
the existing manner.
(2) The pending proceedings concerning the cancellation of orders on
imposed disciplinary punishments or orders on discharge from office shall be
completed in the existing manner.
6. The permits issued under Art. 120b of the abrogated Ministry of Interior
Act before entry into force of this Act shall maintain their validity until expiration of
their term of validity.
7. (1) As pre-trial investigators, investigators shall be appointed without
having to organize competitions and without having to meet the specific requirements
under Art. 179, Para 3 concerning the appointment of MoI public officers.
(2) The pre-trial investigators found if failing to meet the requirements of Art.
217, Para 1, shall continue to fulfill the entrusted functions of investigation within a
term of up to one year after entry into force of this Act.
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8. The subdelegated legislation issued on the base of the abrogated Ministry
of Interior Act, shall be applied until the relevant new subdelegated normative acts
have been issued, if it is not in contradiction to this Act.
9. In the Judicial Power Act (Promulg. Official Gazette, No. 59/1994, No.
78/1994 - Decision No. 8/1994 of the Constitutional Court, No. 87/1994 - Decision
No. 9/1994 of the Constitutional Court, No. 93/1995 - Decision No. 17/1995 of the
Constitutional Court, amend. No. 64/1996, No. 96/1996 - Decision No. 19/1996 of the
Constitutional Court, amendments in issues 104 and 110/1996, issues 58, 122 and
124/1997, issues 11 and 133/1998, No. 6/1999 - Decision No. 1/1999 of the
Constitutional Court, amendments in issues 34, 38 and 84/ 2000, No. 25/2001, No.
74/2002, No. 110/2002 - Decision No. 11/2002 of the Constitutional Court, No.
118/2002 - Decision No. 13/2002 of the Constitutional Court, amendments in issues
61 and 112/2003, issues 29, 36 and 70/2004, No. 93/ 2004 - Decision No. 4/2004 of
the Constitutional Court, No. 37/2005 - Decision No. 4/2005 of the Constitutional
Court, amendments in issues 43 and 86/2005). In Art. 118 Para 3 shall be added:
"(3) The relevant regional public prosecutor shall deliver annually a written
opinion concerning the work of the pre-trial investigator and send a copy to the chief
pre-trial investigator."
10. In the Punishment Execution Act (Promulg. Official Gazette, No.
30/1969; amend. and suppl., No. 34/1974, No. 84/1977, No. 36/1979, No. 28/1982,
issues 27 and 89/1986, No. 26/1988, No. 21/1990, No. 109/1993, No. 50/1995, issues
12 and 13/1997, issues 73 and 153/1998, No. 49/2000, issues 62 and 120/2002, issues
61, 66, 70 and 103/2004, issues 86 and 105/2005) the following amendment shall be
made:
1. In Art. 19, item 1 the words "officers, sergeants and civilians" shall be
deleted.
2. In Art. 20:
) in Para 1, item 1 the text after the words "public officers" shall be deleted;
b) in Para 2 the words "officers and sergeants" shall be replaced by "public
officers";
c) paragraphs 3 and 4 shall be amended as follows:
"(3) The categories of the public officers shall be assigned by the Minister of
Justice under the procedures of the Ministry of Interior Act.
(4) For the personnel under Para 1, item 1 the provisions of Part Three,
Chapters Fifteen - Twenty of the Ministry of Interior Act shall apply, if nothing else
has been provided under this Act."
3. In Art. 20i the words "officers and sergeants" shall be replaced by "public
officers".
4. In Art. 20k the words "civilians" shall be deleted.
5. In Art. 84:
) in Para 1 the words "officers and sergeants" shall be replaced by "public
officers";
) in Para 2 the words "officers and sergeants" shall be replaced by "public
officers".
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6. In Art. 84c, Para 1 the words "officers and sergeants" shall be replaced by
"public officers".
7. In Art. 133, Para 4, item 1 the words "officers, sergeants and civilians"
shall be deleted.
11. In the Political Parties Act (Promulg. Official Gazette, No. 28/2005;
amend. in No. 102/2005) in Art. 9, Para 1 the words "officers, sergeants and civilians"
shall be deleted.
12. In the Crisis Management Act (Official Gazette, No. 19 of 2005) in Art.
58, Para 2, item 1 the words "officers, sergeants and civilians shall be deleted.
13. In the Explosives, Fire Weapons and Ammunition Control Act
(Promulg. Official Gazette, No. 133/1998; amend. No. 85/2000, No. 99/2002, No. 71
of 2003, No. 102 and 105 of 2005) in 7 of the Transitional and Final Provisions the
words "officers, sergeants and civilians" shall be deleted.
14. In the Local Elections Act (Promulg. Official Gazette, No. 66/1995;
amend., No. 68/1995; No. 85/1995 - Decision No. 15/1995 of the Constitutional Court,
amend. No. 33/1996, No. 22/1997 - Decision No. 4/1997 of the Constitutional Court,
amend.: issues 11 and 59/1998, issues 69 and 85/1999, No. 29/2000, No. 24/2001, No.
45/2002, issues 69 and 93/2003, No. 28/2005) in Art. 35, Para 4 after the words "The
Ministry of Defense", comma shall be set, the conjunction "and" shall be deleted and
the text "public officers from shall be added.
15. In the Economic and Social Council Act (Promulg. Official Gazette, No.
41/2001; amend. No. 120/2002 and No. 20/2003), in Art. 9, Para 1, item 9 the words
"officers and sergeants" shall be replaced by "public officers".
16. In the Physical Persons Revenue Taxation Act (Promulg. Official
Gazette, No. 118/1997, No. 35/1998 - Decision No. 6/1998 of the Constitutional
Court, amend. issues 71 and 153/1998, issues 50, 103 and 111/1999, No. 105/2000,
No. 110/2001, issues 40, 45, 61 and 118/2002, issues 42, 67, 95 and 112/2003, issues
36, 37, 53, 70 and 108/2004, issues 43, 102, 103 and 105/2005) in Art. 19, Para 2 the
following amendment shall be made:
1. In item 6 the words "under Art. 223, Para 4 and Art. 261" shall be replaced
by "under Art. 204, Para 4 and Art. 252".
2. In item 10 the words "under Art. 232, Para 1, item 4" shall be replaced by
"award in the form of fire weapons under Art. 215, Para 2".
3. In item 11 the words "under Art. 223, Para 5" shall be replaced by "under
Art. 204, Para 5".
17. In the Classified Information Protection Act (Promulg. Official Gazette,

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No. 45/2002; amend., issues 5 and 31/2003; amend. in issues 52, 55 and 89/2004) in
Art. 14, item 1 the words "Art. 124" shall be replaced by "Art. 113".
18. In the Telecommunications Act (Promulg. Official Gazette, No.
88/2003; amend. in issues 19, 77, 88, 95, 99 and 105/2005) all over the text the words
"the specialized unit under Art. 122" shall be replaced by the Specialized Directorate
under Art. 111".
19. In the Health Insurance Act (Promulg. Official Gazette, No. 70/1998;
amend. in issues 93 and 153/1998, issues 62, 65, 67, 69, 110 and 113/ 1999, issues 1,
31 and 64/2000, No. 41/2001, issues 1, 54, 74, 107, 112, 119 and 120/2002, issues 8,
50, 107 and 114/2003, issues 28, 38, 49, 70, 85 and 111/2004, issues 39, 45, 76, 99,
102, 103 and 105/2005) in Art. 37, Para 3 after the words "under arrest" the text
"persons detained on the grounds of Art. 63 of the Ministry of Interior Act" shall be
added.
20. In the Legal Assistance Act (Promulg. Official Gazette, No. 79/2005;
amend. No. 105/2005) the following amendment shall be made:
1. In Art. 21, item 4 the words "under Art. 70, Para 1" shall be replaced by
"under Art. 63, Para 1".
2. In Art. 28, Para 2 the words "under Art. 70, Para 1" shall be replaced by
"under Art. 63, Para 1".
21. The provisions concerning the legal status of the public officers at the
Ministry of Interior shall apply also to public officers under Art. 11 of the Mail
Services Act.
22. (1) The Council of Ministers shall within one month from entry into
force of this Act introduce to the National Assembly bills on Amendment and
Supplement to the Acts whose provisions shall be brought in compliance with this Act.
(2) The Council of Ministers shall within two months from entry into force of
this Act adopt the subdelegated acts on its implementation.
23. The Minister of Interior shall issue the subdelegated legislation on the
implementation of the Act, within 4 months after its coming into force.
24. This Act shall enter into force on 1 May 2006.
25. The Council of Ministers shall adopt Rules on the Implementation of
this Act within one month after its coming into force.
26. The enforcement of this Act shall be entrusted to the Minister of

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Interior.
------------------------This Act was passed by the 40th National Assembly on 9 February 2006 and
sealed with the official seal of the National Assembly.

Transitional and Final Provisions to the

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE CODE
(Promulg. Official Gazette, No. 30/2006, in force since 12.07.2006)
83. In the Ministry of Interior Act (Official Gazette, No. 17/2006) the
following amendment shall be made:
...................................
2. All over the text the words "Administrative Procedure Act" and the
"Administrative Procedure Act or the Supreme Administrative Court Act" shall be
replaced by the "Administrative Procedure Code".
...................................
142. The Code shall enter into force three months after its promulgation in
the Official Gazette, except for:
1. Part Three, 2, items 1 and 2, item 2 - concerning the cancellation of
Chapter Three, Section II " Judicial Appeal ", 9, items 1 and 2, 11, items 1 and 2,
15, 44, items 1 and 2, 51, item 1, 53, item 1, 61, item 1, 66, item 3, 76, item
1 - 3, 78, 79, 83, item 1, 84, item 1 and 2, 89, item 1 - 4, 101, item 1, 102,
item 1, 107, 117, items 1 and 2, 125, 128, items 1 and 2, 132, item 2 and
136, item 1, as well as 34, 35, item 2, 43, item 2, 62, item 1, 66, items 2 and
4, 97, item 2 and 125, item 1 - concerning the replacement of the word "Regional"
by the word "Administrative" and the replacement of the words "Sofia City Court" by
the words "Administrative Court the city of Sofia" which shall enter into force on 1
March 2007;
2. Paragraph 120 which shall enter into force on 1 January 2007;
3. Paragraph 3 which shall enter into force on the date of the Codes
promulgation in the Official Gazette.

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