Strasbourg Court Rules in Favor of Bulgarian MEP Elena Yoncheva Over Human Rights Violation
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg has ruled in favor of Bulgarian MEP Elena Yoncheva in a case involving a violation of her right to presumption of innocence, Bulgarian National Television (BNT) reported. The court found that Bulgarian authorities had infringed upon Yoncheva’s right to be considered innocent until proven guilty, as well as her right to effective compensation.
In its decision, the ECHR awarded Yoncheva damages amounting to €4,700 for non-pecuniary damage and €3,000 for costs and expenses. The case was initiated following a press release from the Bulgarian prosecution on January 23, 2019, which Yoncheva argued had harmed her right to be considered innocent until proven guilty.
According to Yoncheva’s complaint, there was no national remedy available for this grievance, and the prosecution’s actions were aimed at undermining her work as a journalist and opposition MP by tarnishing her reputation and professional standing.