In June 1996 Amnesty International published a report, Bulgaria: Shootings, deaths in custody, torture and ill-treatment (EUR 15/07/96). The report’s two appendices described seven deaths in custody in suspicious circumstances, three incidents in which six people were shot and 17 cases of torture and ill-treatment of dozens of victims. On 26 July 1996 in a letter from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Bulgarian authorities expressed “[a] wish to develop a cooperation as well as to conduct a constructive dialogue with your organization in order to contribute to the further improvement of the human rights situation in Bulgaria”. On 8 October 1996 AI received from the Bulgarian Embassy in London a second letter from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs which contained information on investigations into 16 cases described in the June report. Although AI welcomed the information provided, the organization found it insufficient to assess whether these investigations have been prompt and impartial. Amnesty International urges the Bulgarian Government to provide additional information.
