Witness

Full reference to Articles 118–123, 139, and 223 of the Bulgarian Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) concerning witness rights and procedural guarantees, including the right to consult with an attorney and the right to refuse testimony under Article 121 CPC.

Rights of a Witness

• Right to consult an attorney — before and during questioning, the witness may seek legal advice regarding the scope of his or her rights and obligations.
• Right to refuse testimony — under Article 121 CPC, a witness may refuse to testify if doing so would incriminate himself or close family members.
• Right to use written notes — the witness may use notes while giving testimony (Art. 118 CPC).
• Right to remote questioning — questioning by delegation or by video conference is permitted (Art. 223 CPC).
• Right to compensation — for lost income and expenses incurred due to participation in criminal proceedings (Art. 123 CPC).
• Right to protection — witnesses may request immediate protection measures under the Witness Protection Act.

Obligations of a Witness

• To appear when summoned by a competent authority.
• To provide truthful testimony based on personal knowledge.
• To notify the authorities of any legitimate reasons preventing appearance.

Special Guarantees

The confidentiality of attorney–client communications extends to consultations provided to witnesses when such advice concerns potential self-incrimination. Any attempt to pressure or intimidate a witness into testimony contrary to Article 121 CPC constitutes a procedural violation and may lead to criminal liability.

This section is derived from Articles 118–123, 139, and 223 of the Bulgarian Criminal Procedure Code, reflecting the canonical Bulgarian version in full fidelity.

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