The Russe Regional Court confirmed the acquittal of a Romanian journalist sued for illegal possession and use of special surveillance devices (SSD).
On September 15 the court acquitted George Buhnici.
The Russe Regional Court sued George Buhnici for illegal possession and use of special surveillance devices (SSD) and sentenced him to BGN 1,000 fine. However, a higher district court acquitted the Romanian journalist two months ago. The court's verdict will be ready in one month.
George Buhnici, an investigative journalist from commercial PRO TV, was seized 16 November 2004 in the Bulgaria-Romania border area at Russe, while secretly shooting a video on alleged under-the-counter deals in the trade zone.
He was found using a microphone and a camera hidden in his eyeglasses that is prohibited under Bulgarian legislation as illegal use of special surveillance devices.
Buhnici pleaded not guilty defending his journalistic right to freedom of speech and search of information. He has been granted large support from Bulgarian media since.
