Accused
Full text under Articles 55, 97, 99, 103, 115, and 138 of the Bulgarian Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) — covering procedural rights, right to interpretation and translation, right to counsel, right to remain silent, right to present evidence and objections, and protection against self-incrimination.
Key Rights of the Accused
- Right to be informed — of the charges, the legal qualification of the alleged offense, and all rights under Art. 55 CPC.
- Right to defense — to engage an attorney of choice or to receive appointed counsel where representation is mandatory.
- Right to remain silent — the accused may refuse to give explanations or statements, and such refusal cannot be used against them.
- Right to interpretation and translation — to receive oral interpretation and written translation of essential procedural acts (Art. 97 CPC).
- Right to review and copy materials — to examine case files and obtain certified copies (Art. 99 CPC).
- Right to make statements and present evidence — orally or in writing, personally or through counsel (Art. 103 CPC).
- Right to participate in procedural acts — including interrogations, confrontations, and expert examinations (Art. 115 CPC).
- Right to appeal — against acts restricting rights or imposing coercive measures (Art. 138 CPC).
Important: Any statement or confession given without the presence of counsel, unless expressly waived in accordance with the law, is inadmissible as evidence.
This section reproduces the canonical Bulgarian provisions from Articles 55, 97, 99, 103, 115, and 138 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The structure and terminology are preserved for exact legal equivalence.