BULGARIA - PENAL PROCEDURE CODE

Part two. EVIDENCING

Chapter thirteen. PROOFS

Section II. Voice Proofs

Art. 115. (1) The accused shall render his/ her explanations orally and directly before the respective body.

Reasons shall be rendered in the presence of a counsel, where the accused so requests. The request shall be entered in the record and the counsel shall be summoned for the interrogation.

(2) The accused shall not be interrogated on commission or by video-conference, except in the cases, where he/she is abroad and where this will not impede the revealing of the objective truth.

(3) The accused shall be entitled to give explanations at any time of the investigation and of the court investigation.

(4) The accused shall be entitled to refuse to give reasons.

BULGARIA - PENAL PROCEDURE CODE

Part two. EVIDENCING

Chapter fourteen. METHODS OF EVIDENCING

Section II. Interrogation

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(3) The interrogation of the accused shall start by a question of he/she does understand the accusation and shall be invited, if he/she wishes, to state in a free-text all what he/she knows under the case.

Article 67
Rights of the accused
1. In the determination of any charge, the accused shall be entitled to a public hearing, having regard to the provisions of this Statute, to a fair hearing conducted impartially, and to the following minimum guarantees, in full equality:
(h) To make an unsworn oral or written statement in his or her defence