Sofia, January 19 (BTA) - Interior Minister Boyko Rashkov presented to the MPs on the parliamentary Internal Security Committee an idea to allow the Interior Ministry's bodies to initiate pre-trial proceedings and press charges, while informing the relevant prosecutor, so the latter can start working on them.

Rashkov said that the reason for his proposal is the current state of the Bulgarian prosecution service and how the powers of the prosecution service and investigative authorities are regulated, which in his opinion pose a significant obstacle to prompt investigations. According to Rashkov, these proposed legislative changes do not restrict the citizens' rights.

The Interior Minister believes that investigative police officers should also be allowed to request from courts to permit the use of special surveillance means (SSMs), just like the Prosecutor General, the head of the Counter-Corruption Commission, and the head of the State Agency for National Security. Currently, the police officer has to approach a prosecutor, who acts as an intermediary between them and the court when SSMs are concerned. MY