Yesterday the Court in Ruse sentenced PRO TV reporter George Buhnici to pay fine reaching about 500 Euro. He stated in front of the court that he had not known that in Bulgaria hidden camera filming was banned, since such procedure was allowed in Romania and in other countries as well. Buhnici's lawyers asked that he should not longer be banned access out of Bulgaria. This can happen in the following days and the journalist will be allowed to return home. Bulgaria media organisations and NGO's asked that article 339 of the Criminal Code should be modified. The contents of this article is the reason why PRO TV reporter George Buhnici was sued for use of hidden camera, Mediafax reports. Article 339 refers to the use of special technical means meant to collect secret information, without the necessary permit. The text included in the Criminal Code is thought to be "absurd" and "archaic" by organisations such as Reporteres sans Frontieres and the Helsinki Committee in Bulgaria. In a press release they issued, the Bulgarian Media Coalition, the Association of Bulgarian Television and Radio Operators and other media representatives stated that the direct effects of this article consisted in setting limits to investigation journalism and to the possibilities on unveil corruption. (B.C.G.) Presidential elections in December 12 These days BEC (the Central Electoral Office) and the Constitutional Court are to go through the stages set for the validation of election results on the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, as well as on the Romanian Presidency. Yesterday during the videoconference with the prefects Gheorghe Emacu, Delegate Minister of Public Administration, informed that Romanian citizens would go voting again on Sunday, December 12, for the second presidential election tour. The same stamps will be used, as well as the same type of written statements for registering the results. As for the "problems" in November 28 elections, Eugen Bejinariu, Minister in charge of the Executive General Secretary Department, referred to "one individual who broke the law in Suceava" and also to more "isolated" incidents. Emacu stated: "Elections were organized and took place in good conditions. There were only a few problems. But to doubt the vote of 10 million Romanians because of a few isolated cases shows serious lack of responsibility".

Corina SCARLAT