Bulgaria
The tragic story of little Borko and his daddy, Dr Georgi Litov
March 28, 2013 - "My name is Borko. A year this May, I was beaten so badly that my spine was broken. I was taken in by a loving family, my daddy is a Bulgarian doctor and a very kind man. Now my daddy is being vilified in our village because he helps the poor strays like me.
The people want my family and me out and there was a mob sent to our home with a film crew. I was attacked and beaten again in my own garden.
PLEASE share for us and let the world know that the government in Bulgaria are not enforcing acts of cruelty and that they are allowing the kind people who help animals like me and my family to be persecuted and removed from their home.
Watch my video below and please don't ignore my CRY for help ♥"
Lynch mob enters private property and beats defenseless, crippled doggy while TV-reporters film the scene
and the police does nothing!
It happened in the village of Selcha (Селча), Municipality of Devin, district of Smolyan in southern Bulgaria on 12th of March, 2013.
The man seen beating Borko is said to be Borian Dafinov Kirov, and the TV-reporters who filmed the ordeal belong to TV7, a Bulgarian TV-station owned by British company Alegro Capital of London.
Not only is it socially acceptable in Bulgaria for this lynch mob to trespass onto Doctor Litov’s property and brutally beat his disabled family dog publicly, in full view of TV cameras, the police are not even interested in prosecuting the perpetrators, refusing to attend the property when called.
The man seen beating Borko is said to be Borian Dafinov Kirov, and the TV-reporters who filmed the ordeal belong to TV7, a Bulgarian TV-station owned by British company Alegro Capital of London.
Not only is it socially acceptable in Bulgaria for this lynch mob to trespass onto Doctor Litov’s property and brutally beat his disabled family dog publicly, in full view of TV cameras, the police are not even interested in prosecuting the perpetrators, refusing to attend the property when called.
In 2007 Bulgaria joined the European Union. One of the criteria for its acceptance was to implement Animal Welfare laws. In 2008, Bulgaria passed its Animal Protection Act protecting animals from cruelty. Now, in 2013 and despite hundreds of cases of severe animal abuse being brought to the attention of the authorities, NO-ONE has been prosecuted. Now this unabated abuse has moved on to persecuting animal welfare people and abusing their disabled pets. This is one animal rescuers story...
It was 7am 12th March, and Bulgarian Doctor, Georgi Litov, was busy chopping wood in his basement to make the morning fire. He heard a commotion in the street and his dogs were barking, yet thought nothing of it as it was not unusual while the busy morning traffic passed the house. He then heard a knock at the door, and went to answer it. He was shocked to see an angry mob and TV cameras outside of his house. Not realizing one of his dogs was still outside and unaware of what had gone on before he quickly closed the door, to avoid any confrontation with the man with the baseball bat.
It was like the scene from a movie, yet for Doctor Georgi Litov it was a nightmare that had become a reality.
In an interview with K9 Rescue Bulgaria, Dr Litov explains how it all started last year after he found Borko as a puppy in the street, dragging himself on his belly, crying from pain, hunger and fear, his spinal column severed.
Appalled how someone could beat a puppy and fracture his spine, leaving him to suffer in this way, Dr Litov filed a Petition to the Regional Public Prosecutor's Office (see Appendix 1 in the next document) yet did not even receive an acknowledgement from them.
“From that moment, Borko became a part of my life forever”, Dr Litov said “I've been nursing and caring for him as my own child ever since. He made friends with my other dog Danny, also rescued from the streets in 2008 and later Jacko, who I found on the streets limping after having been abused and one of his front legs badly injured.” Dr Litov continued “Borko has made significant progress with his condition since then - at the beginning he was paraplegic, yet slowly, as the time went by, he started moving his legs and now he can even stand up with very little support. That is a miracle. The vets believed he would never be able to walk again and humane euthanasia seemed for them the logical solution. Yet Borko proved them wrong.”
In the press release issued by K9 Rescue Bulgaria, that you can read below, Dr Litov describes in his own words how it all started and what happened on 12th March, when mobsters came into his home later that day…
This lynch mob and the media staged this shameful act in order to force Dr. Litov out of his home and work, only because he is helping the strays in the village, where there is no vet and no shelter.
Violating someone else's property by force and deception is a criminal act, according to the Bulgarian Penal Code, yet not only was this condoned by Government Officials and Police, it was orchestrated and filmed by Bulgarian news channel TV7, owned by Alegro Capital of London. The news article in no way criticized the mob for their actions, they only blamed Dr Litov for helping strays.
Dr Litov consulted an attorney and on the 27th of March an official complaint was sent to the Regional Public Prosecutors office in Smolyan and another to the District Police Department in Smolyan, asking for Police protection. Neither the Public Prosecutors nor the Police Department have responded and when approached last week, they have both declined comment.
The TV-reporters who accompanied the crazy mob and filmed the ordeal without intervening belong to:
TV 7
Bul. James Baucher 100 Sofia - Bulgaria
tel: 00359 (0)2 8162740;
00359 (0)2 8162714
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
In November 2012, Alegro Capital, a London-based corporate finance advisory firm, acquired Bulgarian television TV7 for an undisclosed sum.
You can contact Alegro Capital by mail, email and/or phone:
Alegro Capital
16th Floor
125 Old Broad Street
London
EC2N 1AR
United Kingdom
E-mail: [email protected]
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7726 3100
Fax: +44 (0) 20 3137 0037
and you can also send a message to Mr Patrick Martin - Investment Banker, Media Expert, Partner and Head of Media, Entertainment and Internet at Alegro Capital, at <[email protected]>
Mr Patrick Martin can also be found at, and contacted via Linkedin.
Please send a polite message to Mr Martin to let him know how you feel about the fact that the TV crew of his newly acquired Bulgarian TV-station think it's acceptable for them to accompany a crazy mob, to simply film the ordeal and to report this atrocity as the most normal thing in the world - without criticism of Borko's abuse - only criticizing that the village doctor has animals on his property and patients have to put up with them...
How to help little Borko and his family
A message shared by K9 Rescue Bulgaria:
Thank you so much everyone for your incredible support of Borko and his family.
Borko is much loved by his family and he loves them too, so we do not want to take him away from them, yet of course, they also want his safety, and this is the purpose of our appeal - to finally have legal protection for Borko and all the other animals in Bulgaria. This is why we want to gain as much publicity as possible, so that it is picked up by the international media and the Bulgarian Government are embarrassed into finally taking action against animal abuser.
Bulgaria has an excellent animal protection act, yet it is totally unenforced and this is what we want to see change, to stop the mob culture like this, that we keep seeing time and again happen against animal advocates in Bulgaria, who are targeted daily for feeding, helping, rescuing and accommodating strays.
The fact that the TV crew think it's acceptable for the TV 7 Film Crew to simply film and report this atrocity as the most normal thing in the world, without criticism of Borko's abuse, only criticizing that the village doctor has animals on his property and patients have to put up with them, speaks volumes about the culture towards animal abuse as being normal and acceptable in Bulgaria.
It's time for change, and maybe, just maybe, Borko can be the voice of that change...
Please help Dr Litov and Borko to grab the international media's attention to embarrass the Bulgarian government into finally enforcing their Animal Protection Act.
Please send this video link: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=589874617690272 or the You Tube version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCnRYYxzaro to:
The President of Bulgaria,
Rosen Plevneliev
[email protected]
The Prime Minister of Bulgaria,
Marin Raykov
[email protected]
Secretary General of Bulgaria,
Liliya Ivanova
[email protected]
with each email copied to the Bulgarian Press:
[email protected]
[email protected]
and to the following news channels and newspapers:
Major news-channels:
[email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
British Media:
ITV news [email protected]
BBC news [email protected]
British newspapers:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected] (subject field of email should say “Letter to the Editor”)
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
German media:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
and/or to any other media outlet that you can think of. Please can you also contact the offices given below and tell them of your disgust.
These are the addresses of the mayor of Devin municipality and the mayor of the village of Selcha, as well as the address of the public prosecutor's office in Smolian.
Mr. Cvetalin Vasilev Penkov
Kmet OBSHTINA DEVIN Ul.
Druzhba No 1
DEVIN PK
4800 BULGARIA
Tel: 359 (0)30412174
e-mail: [email protected]
Venelin Velizarov Opov
Kmet Selo Selcha Obshtina Devin Obl.
Smolian PK 4814 BULGARIA
Теl: 00359 (0)30476/223
Mobile: 00359 (0)889536600
Public Prosecutor's Office
Smolian Bul. Bulgaria No 16
Smolian BULGARIA
Email: [email protected]
Update on Borko, Danny & Jako
Here are some photos's of Borko and his brothers Danny and Jako taken today, March 30, 2013. All three dogs are well and safe for now. These sweethearts are the "so called dirty vermin" that the villagers object to being in their doctor's house!
For updates on Borko and his family, please follow the Facebook-page of K9 Rescue Bulgaria.
For updates on Borko and his family, please follow the Facebook-page of K9 Rescue Bulgaria.
The petition
K9 Rescue Bulgaria has started a petition at change.org that sends instant emails, and that we kindly ask you to sign. You can sign this petition directly at change.org by clicking the big blue button below (the petition site will open in a new tab).
By signing the petition, the message that you can read below, will be sent to:
Mr Rosen Plevneliev, President of Bulgaria, President of Bulgaria
Mr Marin Raykov, Prime Minister of Bulgaria
Ms Liliya Ivanova, Secretary General of Bulgaria
Mr Cvetalin Vasilev Penkov, Mayor of Municipality of Devin
Public Prosecutor, Public Prosecutor's Office Smolyan
Ombudsman, Ombudsman Office
British Embassy, British Embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria
German Embassy, German Embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria
USA Embassy, USA Embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria
THE PETITION LETTER:
Justice for Disabled Borko! Punish the man who savagely beat him in his own home!
After watching the TV 7 news footage “Disgruntled inhabitants of the village Selcha want a new Doctor” (http://bulgaria.tv7.bg/news/9670202.html), we, the undersigned, are absolutely outraged to learn of the barbaric crimes against animals in Bulgaria that go unpunished. Not only is it socially acceptable in Bulgaria for this Lynch Mob to trespass onto Doctor Litov’s property and brutally beat his disabled family dog publicly, in full view of TV cameras, the Police are not even interested in prosecuting the perpetrators, refusing to attend the property when called.
This Lynch Mob and the media staged this shameful act in order to force Dr. Litov out of his home and work, only because he is helping the strays in the village, where there is no vet and no shelter. The news article in no way criticised the mob for their actions, they only blamed Dr Litov for helping strays.
We the undersigned, require the Bulgarian Authorities to uphold the law by:
1. Ensuring Dr. Litov, his family and his animals are left in peace. Having pets is not a crime. In fact, Dr Litov does the municipality’s job by rescuing and treating the strays in the region.
2. Providing strict guidelines for the out of control media. The media should not incite hatred towards the stray animals and the animal lovers as they are currently doing. This is stipulated in the Animal Protection Act and the media's brutal anti-animal and anti-animal-lovers ongoing campaign should be prosecuted.
3. Prosecution for the savage man, who publicly beat with a baseball bat Dr Litov’s family disabled dog, Borko.
We further ask the Government of Bulgaria, how can this be, in the 21st Century, that a member state of the European Union does not prosecute crimes against animals?
Bulgaria has very good, modern Animal Welfare Law (APA 2008) that forbids inhumane handling of animals and places strays under special protection. On 14 April 2011, Bulgarian Parliament passed an amendment in the Penal Code, which criminalizes Extreme Cruelty to Animals. That came onto force on 27 July, 2011. So, what is the problem then?
The problem is that Bulgaria has no enforcement body to implement the new law and therefore change cannot take place. Bulgaria has no legitimate Zoo police with powers and Bulgarian police officers do not want to bother to investigate and take animal abusers to justice. Since 27 July 2011 we witnessed a number of extreme animal cruelty cases in Bulgaria and no criminal was caught and punished with jail term, or even with a fine. Our complaints go unnoticed and in some cases we've been told to “shut up or else”.
Bulgarian animals live and die in agony! Criminals never get investigated and punished! In most cases Police laugh it off or simply do not accept their duty to protect animals.
The link between animal abuse and crimes against humans has been well documented over several decades. Many studies in psychology, sociology, and criminology during the last 25 years have demonstrated that violent offenders frequently have histories of serious and repeated animal cruelty.
Given it is proven that people who can commit crimes against animals rarely stop there and that they are very likely to harm other humans, especially children or other vulnerable people, we are calling upon the Government of Bulgaria to Criminalise and Prosecute ALL Acts of Animal Abuse.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Thank you!
Hi everyone,
please bear with us, we are a very small team, all with other full-time employment, now involved in a very large scale campaign, so it has become practically impossible to answer everyone's messages, so we are trying to do general updates that hopefully answers most people's questions. As we said in our original posting, Dr Litov came to us for help, not for us to take his dogs away. He does only have 3 dogs, he is not, nor has he ever been a hoarder.
You will see in our press release, that the mob were looking for evidence of hoarding, and were triumphant when they found a few feral cats taking temporary shelter in the basement. This is the mentality of such people in Bulgaria, condoned and encouraged by Government officials. Borko and his brothers are safe and well cared for, we have no plans to re-home him. Dr Litov cares for them very well and views them as his children and we are not of a mind to take his children away from him because the Municipality says so.
Also, please know that this situation is not unique in Bulgaria - yes we could relocate Dr Litov and his pets, yet this is a common situation, it could easily arise again once he started helping strays in his new place, plus Dr Litov has long term patients who depend on him and does not want to leave them in dire straits. The nearest GP practice is about 6 hours both ways and not many people in the village are in position to get there, especially the chronically ill patients.
Please also realise that the mob was what, some 20-30 people, there are 700-800 people in the village of Selcha, and 400 of those are happy patients of Dr Litov - as usual, it is the bullies and animal abusers who shout the loudest and get their way, they do not speak for the entire village.
The only thing that makes this case different from all the others being played out right now, right across Bulgaria is that this particular atrocity was filmed and broadcast on national TV by a news team TV7 owned by a British company Alegro Capital.
We are pushing for Police Protection for Dr Litov, and the more noise we and you make, the more likely it is that this will happen. What Dr Litov needs right now, is People Power to Rage against the Regime, that is the only way forward. We have done what we can to bring this heinous crime into the spotlight, and now we ask you, our friends and supporters to take this to every corner of the globe, to get this story out there into the mainstream, to be Dr Litov's voice, so he and others like him can be finally heard.
Thank you!
your K9 Rescue Bulgaria Team
please bear with us, we are a very small team, all with other full-time employment, now involved in a very large scale campaign, so it has become practically impossible to answer everyone's messages, so we are trying to do general updates that hopefully answers most people's questions. As we said in our original posting, Dr Litov came to us for help, not for us to take his dogs away. He does only have 3 dogs, he is not, nor has he ever been a hoarder.
You will see in our press release, that the mob were looking for evidence of hoarding, and were triumphant when they found a few feral cats taking temporary shelter in the basement. This is the mentality of such people in Bulgaria, condoned and encouraged by Government officials. Borko and his brothers are safe and well cared for, we have no plans to re-home him. Dr Litov cares for them very well and views them as his children and we are not of a mind to take his children away from him because the Municipality says so.
Also, please know that this situation is not unique in Bulgaria - yes we could relocate Dr Litov and his pets, yet this is a common situation, it could easily arise again once he started helping strays in his new place, plus Dr Litov has long term patients who depend on him and does not want to leave them in dire straits. The nearest GP practice is about 6 hours both ways and not many people in the village are in position to get there, especially the chronically ill patients.
Please also realise that the mob was what, some 20-30 people, there are 700-800 people in the village of Selcha, and 400 of those are happy patients of Dr Litov - as usual, it is the bullies and animal abusers who shout the loudest and get their way, they do not speak for the entire village.
The only thing that makes this case different from all the others being played out right now, right across Bulgaria is that this particular atrocity was filmed and broadcast on national TV by a news team TV7 owned by a British company Alegro Capital.
We are pushing for Police Protection for Dr Litov, and the more noise we and you make, the more likely it is that this will happen. What Dr Litov needs right now, is People Power to Rage against the Regime, that is the only way forward. We have done what we can to bring this heinous crime into the spotlight, and now we ask you, our friends and supporters to take this to every corner of the globe, to get this story out there into the mainstream, to be Dr Litov's voice, so he and others like him can be finally heard.
Thank you!
your K9 Rescue Bulgaria Team
Concerning donations
Many people have asked where to donate for Borko and to sponsor a wheelchair for him.
K9 has received several offers of donated carts, so they are currently talking with people about that.
What we don't want to do is make this appeal about money and donations, as that is not what it is about at all - this is about Justice for Borko and to make the media accountable for inciting hatred against both the strays and those who help and protect them, as part of the Bulgarian Media's ongoing "War on Strays" campaign.
If you like to send a gift to Borko and/or to Dr Litov and his family, this is the address:
Dr Georgi Litov
The Post Office
Selo Selcha PK 4814
Obsht. Devin, obl. Smolian
BULGARIA
Dr Litov will publish the names of all the people who donate gifts. If anyone does not see his/her name, please contact K9 Rescue Bulgaria!
A Facebook-page has been created for little Borko, including a wish list for kind sponsors wanting to send him parcel gifts in the mail (diapers, dog boots, orthopedic bed, antibiotic ointments, A&D ointments, doggy diaper shorts, etc...)
Please visit Borko's fan-page on Facebook, and please LIKE & SHARE it.
Thank you!
H E L P !!!
April 5, 2013 - via K9 Rescue Bulgaria:
Just when we thought it couldn’t get any worse. Not only have the Municipality condoned the Lynch Mob mentality of the protesters and TV7 Film crew; glorifying themselves on national television. Now, they are rubbing salt into the wound by serving Dr Litov and his family an eviction notice. One has to ask, what the actual agenda here is from the municipality, because as far as we’re concerned this stinks of nepotism and corruption on a grand scale.
This is the treatment the animal rescuers and advocates in Bulgaria can now expect, and if this eviction goes through, a precedent will be set that SPELLS DISASTER for ALL animal lovers across Bulgaria. We need to fight this on behalf of Dr Litov.
Now more than ever we need YOUR help. Please SIGN and SHARE the PETITION as far and wide as possible we have 23,000 signatures so far, surely there are more than 23,000 animal lovers in the world?
If anyone has any high level contacts in the International Media, Bulgarian Government or the European Commission, now is the time to contact them to help sort this out.
Time is of the essence now, PLEASE HELP!
Occupy for Animals
petitions TV7 to broadcast the truth
about Borko and his family's persecution for helping stray dogs
Disabled Borko's Story Part II:
TV7, Broadcast the Truth!
By signing Occupy for Animal's new petition directly at change.org, the following message will be sent instantly to Mr Patrick Martin, Head of Media at Alegro Capital, UK, owner of TV7:
SUBJECT: Disabled Borko's Story Part II: TV7, Broadcast the Truth!
Dear Mr Martin,
following recent events with regards to the Lynch Mob that persecuted Dr Litov and his 3 dogs in Selcha, Bulgaria, accompanied and filmed by the TV-crew of your newly acquired Bulgarian TV-station, TV7, which prompted international outcry, over 25,000 people have now signed the “Justice for Disabled Borko” petition with the story having reached hundreds of thousands more via the internet and growing.
Dr. Litov has now gained 6 figure support worldwide, and much within Bulgaria. Contact has been made to the Bulgarian President's Office as well as the offices of José Manuel Barroso, the President of the European Commission, the European Court of Human Rights, and many others, with the international condemnation now reaching such high level places as UK Government Officials, International Media, several celebrities and other European Commission Members.
We thought we should therefore inform you of recent events which have now taken a more sinister turn where, not only the doctor's livelihood is at risk, yet also serious threats to both his and his animals' lives. The local municipality have sent him an eviction notice which on top of all the mob threats, now leaves him and the animals homeless.
As TV7 were eager to have a good story about the doctor, his 3 dogs and the protesters that don't like him helping the strays, we ask that you now also film and broadcast "Part II" of the story: That the doctor has been the victim of a “Witch Hunt” purely because he helps the strays on the street, and as a result he is now to be evicted from his home, meaning he will lose his livelihood, and doesn't know how to feed his family, nor where he will go.
Will you broadcast that, too?
We believe that TV7 have been complicit in this tragedy, and we believe it is only just and fair that you now assist in sorting this situation out to a happy conclusion. We WILL win this fight, and TV7 can either be part of the solution for this story, or part of the problem.
We trust you will do the right thing.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Thank you!
Borko's story now also on CNN iReport
Justice for Disabled Borko!
Punish the man who savagely beat him in his own home!
Punish the man who savagely beat him in his own home!
Bulgarian Broadcasting Channel, News TV7 (who have a Broadcast Affiliate Agreement with Turner Broadcasting, parent company of CNN International) have become the subject of international condemnation for inciting and filming without intervening, the abuse crime against Bulgarian disabled dog Borko, who was savagely beaten by a lynch mob in his own home.
Occupy for Animals ( www.occupyforanimals.org) are petitioning TV7 to Broadcast the Truth about Borko and his family's persecution for helping stray dogs.
►►► Read more and sign the petition at:www.change.org/petitions/disabled-borko-s-story-part-ii-tv7-broadcast-the-truth
In case you have not done so yet, please also sign Borko's first petition “Justice for Borko” started by K9 Rescue Bulgaria, at:
www.change.org/petitions/justice-for-disabled-borko-punish-the-man-who-savagely-beat-him-in-his-own-home
We thank you most sincerely in advance!
Link to CNN iReport
Occupy for Animals ( www.occupyforanimals.org) are petitioning TV7 to Broadcast the Truth about Borko and his family's persecution for helping stray dogs.
►►► Read more and sign the petition at:www.change.org/petitions/disabled-borko-s-story-part-ii-tv7-broadcast-the-truth
In case you have not done so yet, please also sign Borko's first petition “Justice for Borko” started by K9 Rescue Bulgaria, at:
www.change.org/petitions/justice-for-disabled-borko-punish-the-man-who-savagely-beat-him-in-his-own-home
We thank you most sincerely in advance!
Link to CNN iReport
BEATING OF STRAY BULGARIAN DOG
SPARKS WORLDWIDE OUTRAGE
writes LIFE WITH DOGS
Strength in numbers can be a powerful thing, and the public is being urged to band together to bring justice to a stray Bulgarian dog named Borko.
The Bulgarian media staged and filmed a lynch mob marching to the home of Dr. George Litov, a man who rescues stray dogs. One man took a bat and savagely beat the disabled Borko. When police were called, they did not even show up.
Adding insult to injury, Dr. Litov and his family are being evicted and bullied out of their home, and even their town. Nothing has been done to help the kind-hearted family who has only tried to help those less fortunate.
Local news articles about the story did not censure the barbaric and sadistic individuals of the mob or the film crew; rather, they chastised Dr. Litov for helping strays. Journalists in the area incite these kinds of incidents by promoting the “war against stray dogs” – their exact wording of what they deem to be an epidemic. Instead of encouraging spay and neuter programs and proper care of pets, citizens are egged on to commit heinous acts.
Bulgaria is a member of the European Union, and has recently adopted animal protection laws. The Animal Welfare Law (2008) forbids inhumane handling of animals, and in 2011 an amendment was made to the penal code that criminalized extreme cruelty to animals. So why is what happened to Borko, and many like him, allowed to go unpunished?
While the laws may have changed, the mentality hasn’t. People in many parts of the world still, STILL, in 2013, consider animals to be disposable creatures that don’t feel pain. Even worse, some malicious people not only don’t care about, but take pleasure in the suffering of animals.
Law “enforcement” is also culpable, as they typically do not enforce these laws. Callous police frequently laugh brutality off, and do not accept their obligation to protect animals. Criminals often are not investigated, given jail time or even a fine for their wrongdoings, and threaten others who want them held accountable.
So what can be done to help? Raising public awareness and making Bulgarian officials see that they can no longer overlook such atrocities without reproach is a step in the right direction. It is up to them to ensure that their police enforce regulations and to develop programs that will help citizens learn to have compassion for animals and care for them.
A number of online petitions have been started to seek justice for Borko and Dr. Litov’s family, and ultimately, to demand EU and Bulgarian bureaucrats to put an end to unnecessary cruelty and carnage. These are four of the more prominent petitions:
http://www.change.org/petitions/justice-for-disabled-borko-punish-the-man-who-savagely-beat-him-in-his-own-home
http://www.causes.com/actions/1744021-justice-for-borko-demand-the-bulgarian-government-take-action-on-animal-cruelty
https://www.change.org/petitions/disabled-borko-s-story-part-ii-tv7-broadcast-the-truth
http://www.youcaring.com/other/chip-in-disabled-borko-justice-fund/51440
Link to article
The Bulgarian media staged and filmed a lynch mob marching to the home of Dr. George Litov, a man who rescues stray dogs. One man took a bat and savagely beat the disabled Borko. When police were called, they did not even show up.
Adding insult to injury, Dr. Litov and his family are being evicted and bullied out of their home, and even their town. Nothing has been done to help the kind-hearted family who has only tried to help those less fortunate.
Local news articles about the story did not censure the barbaric and sadistic individuals of the mob or the film crew; rather, they chastised Dr. Litov for helping strays. Journalists in the area incite these kinds of incidents by promoting the “war against stray dogs” – their exact wording of what they deem to be an epidemic. Instead of encouraging spay and neuter programs and proper care of pets, citizens are egged on to commit heinous acts.
Bulgaria is a member of the European Union, and has recently adopted animal protection laws. The Animal Welfare Law (2008) forbids inhumane handling of animals, and in 2011 an amendment was made to the penal code that criminalized extreme cruelty to animals. So why is what happened to Borko, and many like him, allowed to go unpunished?
While the laws may have changed, the mentality hasn’t. People in many parts of the world still, STILL, in 2013, consider animals to be disposable creatures that don’t feel pain. Even worse, some malicious people not only don’t care about, but take pleasure in the suffering of animals.
Law “enforcement” is also culpable, as they typically do not enforce these laws. Callous police frequently laugh brutality off, and do not accept their obligation to protect animals. Criminals often are not investigated, given jail time or even a fine for their wrongdoings, and threaten others who want them held accountable.
So what can be done to help? Raising public awareness and making Bulgarian officials see that they can no longer overlook such atrocities without reproach is a step in the right direction. It is up to them to ensure that their police enforce regulations and to develop programs that will help citizens learn to have compassion for animals and care for them.
A number of online petitions have been started to seek justice for Borko and Dr. Litov’s family, and ultimately, to demand EU and Bulgarian bureaucrats to put an end to unnecessary cruelty and carnage. These are four of the more prominent petitions:
http://www.change.org/petitions/justice-for-disabled-borko-punish-the-man-who-savagely-beat-him-in-his-own-home
http://www.causes.com/actions/1744021-justice-for-borko-demand-the-bulgarian-government-take-action-on-animal-cruelty
https://www.change.org/petitions/disabled-borko-s-story-part-ii-tv7-broadcast-the-truth
http://www.youcaring.com/other/chip-in-disabled-borko-justice-fund/51440
Link to article
Please send a letter to ETHICNET and CEM
regarding “Bulgaria’s TV7 (Alegro Capital) Breach of the Ethical Code of the Bulgarian Media and Bulgarian Radio and Television Act 1999”
EthicNet
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
FI-33014 University of Tampere
FINLAND
and
CEM (Bulgarian Council for Electronic Media)
69 Shipchenski prohod Blvd
1574 Sofia
BULGARIA
By Email to: [email protected]
and [email protected]
CC Alegro Capital: [email protected]
CC Secretariat of Mrs Kroes: [email protected]
Adr : European Commission
BERL 10/224
1049 Brussels Belgium
As per this article: http://www.euinside.eu/en/comments/bulgarian-media-problems-are-now-a-european-issue
Dear Sir/Madam,
RE: Bulgaria’s TV7 (Alegro Capital) Breach of the Ethical Code of the Bulgarian Media and Radio and Television Act 1999
I am writing to express my outrage of a reportage by TV7, aired on March 12, 2013. The title of the news item is "Disgruntled residents of village Selcha want a new doctor," and a second libellous caption, continuous for the duration of the report reads: "DOCTOR INCITES DOGS AGAINST PATIENTS”. Please see: http://bulgaria.tv7.bg/news/9670202.html
It was broadcast during the news and an inappropriate footage of violence was shown – an angry man beats Dr. Litov’s crippled pet dog with a baseball bat. The reporter, not only did not condemn this heinous act of cruelty against a defenceless animal, on the contrary, she tries to justify it. For example: she says it was wrong that the surgery’s gate was locked outside business hours as if this is good enough reason to attack the pet; she also finds it somewhat abnormal that Dr. Litov went quickly inside and locked the door when an angry man holding a baseball bat approached him. Moreover, the reporter implies that despite the dangerous provocation and despite the fact she was there unannounced and outside business hours, Dr. Litov was obliged to give her an interview? Perhaps she hoped that the provocation would work and she would make a sensation! I have no other explanation.
I find the reportage biased, lacking professional merit and violating moral and ethical principles that media should uphold. It violated Article 10 of the Bulgarian Radio and Television Act 1999, namely:
- Article 10, paragraph 1, item 4 - Dr. Litov’s personal safety has been jeopardised
- Article 10, Paragraph 1, Item 5 – Promotes intolerance among people
- Article 10, paragraph 1, item 6 - Contrary to moral standards it excuses cruelty!
The second title "DOCTOR INCITES DOGS AGAINST PATIENTS” is absurd! It is libellous and aims to destroy Dr. Litov’s good reputation, earned with over 10 years outstanding practice in the village. It is more than obvious that it is based on hearsay, because the footage does not prove such a claim. On the contrary, it shows that the doctor managed to keep calm during a very frightening situation!
Based on the above-described serious violations of the Law and moral values by TV7, which filmed and broadcast this shameful act of Dr. Litov’s public humiliation, and the savage beating of his disabled dog, I URGE you to impose the appropriate punishment on TV7. I also URGE you to ensure that Dr. Litov receives a public apology by TV7.
I hope you will take my concerns seriously. I am not the only one outraged, the TV7 film footage sparked international outrage. I attach a link to a petition in support of Dr. Litov and Borko, signed by over 44,000 people from all over the world, with numbers still growing. All these signatures were collected in just 10 days - a fact that speaks volumes!
https://www.change.org/petitions/justice-for-disabled-borko-punish-the-man-who-savagely-beat-him-in-his-own-home
Yours sincerely,
[your name]
"Letters to the editor"
published by Novinite.com
Novinite.com went out on a limb and published articles (letters to the editors) in support of Borko, when NO OTHER news media have.
Novinite, which is one of the very few Bulgarian media outlets that is NOT part of the media's "War on Strays" that has been inciting hatred against Bulgaria's stray dog population for years now, has published two "letters to the editor" so far and we would like to express our heartfelt thanks to Novinite.com for these publications.
Below you can read the letters....
How Can Bulgaria Let This Happen?
Letters to the Editor | April 1, 2013, Monday| letter sent by Allison Maxwell
Most of you know the sad story of little Borko and his family by now. For those who are not familiar with the tragic case, we would like to sum it up briefly:
Dr Litov is the local doctor of the village Selcha (Селча), municipality of Devin, district of Smolyan in southern Bulgaria.
The doctor is being vilified in his village because he helps the poor strays like little Borko that you see in the added picture. A year this May, Borko was beaten so badly that his spine was broken and he was taken in by the kind doctor.
On the 28th of March, a mob was sent to Dr Litov's home, accompanied by a film crew. Little Borko was attacked and beaten again in his own garden.
See video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ZCnRYYxzaro
Not only is it socially acceptable in Bulgaria for this lynch mob to trespass onto Doctor Litov's property and brutally beat his disabled family dog publicly, in full view of TV cameras, the police are not even interested in prosecuting the perpetrators, refusing to attend the property when called.
This lynch mob and the media staged this shameful act in order to force Dr. Litov out of his home and work, only because he is helping the strays in the village, where there is no vet and no shelter. The news article in no way criticized the mob for their actions, they only blamed Dr Litov for helping strays.
Who are these horrible people who have terrorized the doctor and beaten little Borko?
The man seen beating Borko is said to be Borian Dafinov Kirov.
The TV-reporters who accompanied the crazy mob and filmed the ordeal without intervening belong to:
TV 7 - Bul. James Baucher 100 Sofia - Bulgaria
So tell me why would I want to come to a country that lets this happen ??? People that are sick and twisted do this kind of thing!!!
Allison Maxwell
Link to article
Crimes against Animals in Bulgaria Barbaric
Letters to the Editor | April 3, 2013, Wednesday | letter sent by Marian Giesbers
Dear Mr. President, Prime Minister, Secretary, Madam, Sir, to Whom it Concerns:
After watching the TV 7 news footage “Disgruntled inhabitants of the village Selcha want a new Doctor” (http://bulgaria.tv7.bg/news/9670202.html) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCnRYYxzaro), we, the undersigned, are absolutely outraged to learn of the barbaric crimes against animals in Bulgaria that go unpunished.
Not only is it socially acceptable in Bulgaria for this Lynch Mob to trespass onto Doctor Litov’s property and brutally beat his disabled family dog publicly, in full view of TV cameras, the Police are not even interested in prosecuting the perpetrators, refusing to attend the property when called.
This Lynch Mob and the media staged this shameful act in order to force Dr. Litov out of his home and work, only because he is helping the strays in the village, where there is no vet and no shelter. The news article in no way criticized the mob for their actions, they only blamed Dr Litov for helping strays as every humane and ethically developed person should do!
I, the undersigned, require the Bulgarian Authorities to uphold the law by:
1. Ensuring Dr. Litov, his family and his animals are left in peace. Having pets is not a crime. In fact, Dr Litov does the municipality’s job by rescuing and treating the strays in the region.
2. Not only is it socially acceptable in Bulgaria for this lynch mob to trespass onto Doctor Litov’s private property and brutally beat his disabled family dog publicly, in full view of TV cameras, the police are not even interested in prosecuting the perpetrators, refusing to attend the property when called.
The Bulgarian Journalists are the main instigators of the so-called "War against the Stray Dogs" this is the exact term they use in their TV shows and articles. They are the ones who encourage the barbaric primitive acts on the defenceless stray animals and should also be held accountable for their despicable actions.
Providing strict guidelines for the out of control media. The media should not incite hatred towards the stray animals and the animal lovers as they are currently doing. This is stipulated in the Animal Protection Act and the media's brutal anti-animal and anti-animal-lovers ongoing campaign should be prosecuted.
3. Prosecution for the savage man, who publicly beat with a baseball bat Dr Litov’s family disabled dog, Borko.
I further ask the Government of Bulgaria, how can this be, in the 21st Century, that a member state of the European Union does not prosecute crimes against animals?
Bulgaria has a very good, modern Animal Welfare Law (APA 2008) that forbids inhumane handling of animals and places strays under special protection. On 14 April 2011, Bulgarian Parliament passed an amendment in the Penal Code, which criminalizes Extreme Cruelty to Animals. That came onto force on 27 July, 2011. So, what is the problem then?
The problem is that Bulgaria has no enforcement body to implement the new law and therefore change cannot take place. Bulgaria has no legitimate Zoo police with powers and Bulgarian police officers do not want to bother to investigate and take animal abusers to justice. Since 27 July 2011 we witnessed a number of extreme animal cruelty cases in Bulgaria and no criminal was caught and punished with jail term, or even with a fine. Our complaints go unnoticed and in some cases we've been told to “shut up or else”.
Bulgarian animals live and die in agony! Criminals never get investigated and punished! In most cases Police laugh it off or simply do not accept their duty to protect animals.
The link between animal abuse and crimes against humans has been well documented over several decades. Many studies in psychology, sociology, and criminology during the last 25 years have demonstrated that violent offenders frequently have histories of serious and repeated animal cruelty.
Given it is proven that people who can commit crimes against animals rarely stop there and that they are very likely to harm other humans, especially children or other vulnerable people, we are calling upon the Government of Bulgaria to criminalize and prosecute ALL Acts of animal abuse.
It is time for Bulgaria to step into the 21st century and take a stand against abusers, of all kinds.
Marian Giesbers
Stekkenberg 114
6561XN Groesbeek
the Netherlands
Link to article
Bulgaria Should Prosecute Media Who Filmed Borko Abuse
Letters to the Editor | April 4, 2013, Thursday| letter sent by Liz Peterson
Dear Mr. Penkov, the Smolyan Public Prosecutor's Office, and Alegro Capital,
See video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCnRYYxzaro
I am outraged that an innocent and disabled animal was abused and nothing has been done to prosecute the perpetrators of this crime.
This mob trespassed on Dr. Litov's property, abused his dog and videotaped the abuse! All the evidence you need is on film. You have faces of a good percentage of the mob who came to threaten Dr. Litov and his family. You also have a clear view of the man who attacked Dr. Litov's dog, Borko. If you have a dog overpopulation problem, then you need to start spaying & neutering your dogs.
Is condoned violence how you solve your problems? Borko could not even run away or defend himself! All of the people in the mob are criminals and cowards. They need to be prosecuted and pay for their crimes. I ask you to uphold your animal protection laws and Dr. Litov's rights. The police and prosecutors need to do their jobs and obey the law instead of looking the other way.
I also ask that the media who came with the mob be prosecuted. They were complicit in the criminal act and deserve to be held responsible for their part in this crime. Alegro Capital, you need to take a look at the behavior of your TV7 reporters. This was not reporting. Your employees went to Dr. Litov's house with the mob and knew what was going to happen. Then they stood by while it happened. They need to be fired from their positions and arrested.
Violent and criminal behavior needs to be punished no matter how or where it happens.
Turning a blind eye to known illegal activity indicates a corrupt government.
Is this kind of behavior you want the world to associate with Bulgaria?
Liz Peterson
Cortlandt Manor, NY
United States
Link to article
Open Letter to TV7 over Borko Abuse
Letters to the Editor | April 8, 2013, Monday | letter sent by Abigail Pereira
Dear TV7 and Alegro Capital,
Following recent events with regards to the Lynch Mob that persecuted Dr Litov and his 3 dogs in Selcha, Bulgaria, accompanied and filmed by the TV-crew of your newly acquired Bulgarian TV-station, TV7, which prompted international outcry, over 28,000 (* 37.000 at the moment) people have now signed the “Justice for Disabled Borko” petition (https://www.change.org/petitions/justice-for-disabled-borko-punish-the-man-who-savagely-beat-him-in-his-own-home) with the story having reached hundreds of thousands more via the internet and growing.
Dr. Litov has now gained 6 figure support worldwide, and much within Bulgaria. Contact has been made to the Bulgarian President's Office as well as the offices of José Manuel Barroso the President of the European Commission, the European Court of Human Rights, and many others, with the international condemnation now reaching such high level places as UK Government Officials, International Media, several celebrities and other European Commission members.
We thought we should therefore inform you of recent events which have now taken a more sinister turn where, not only the doctor’s livelihood is at risk, yet also serious threats to both his and his animals lives. The local municipality have today sent him an eviction notice which on top of all the mob threats, now leaves him and the animals homeless.
As TV7 were eager to have a good story about the Doctor, his 3 dogs and the protesters that don't like him helping the strays, we ask that you now also film and broadcast "Part II" of the story: That the Doctor has been the victim of a “Witch Hunt” purely because he helps the strays on the street, and as a result he is now to be evicted from his home, meaning he will lose his livelihood, and doesn't know how to feed his family, nor where he will go.
Will you broadcast that too?
We believe that TV7 have been complicit in this tragedy, and we believe it is only just and fair that you now assist in sorting this situation out to a happy conclusion. We WILL win this fight, and TV7 can either be part of the solution for this story, or part of the problem.
We trust you will do the right thing.
Sincerely,
ABIGAIL PEREIRA
COCHAMBA, BOLIVIA
Link to article
Letters to the Editor | April 8, 2013, Monday | letter sent by Abigail Pereira
Dear TV7 and Alegro Capital,
Following recent events with regards to the Lynch Mob that persecuted Dr Litov and his 3 dogs in Selcha, Bulgaria, accompanied and filmed by the TV-crew of your newly acquired Bulgarian TV-station, TV7, which prompted international outcry, over 28,000 (* 37.000 at the moment) people have now signed the “Justice for Disabled Borko” petition (https://www.change.org/petitions/justice-for-disabled-borko-punish-the-man-who-savagely-beat-him-in-his-own-home) with the story having reached hundreds of thousands more via the internet and growing.
Dr. Litov has now gained 6 figure support worldwide, and much within Bulgaria. Contact has been made to the Bulgarian President's Office as well as the offices of José Manuel Barroso the President of the European Commission, the European Court of Human Rights, and many others, with the international condemnation now reaching such high level places as UK Government Officials, International Media, several celebrities and other European Commission members.
We thought we should therefore inform you of recent events which have now taken a more sinister turn where, not only the doctor’s livelihood is at risk, yet also serious threats to both his and his animals lives. The local municipality have today sent him an eviction notice which on top of all the mob threats, now leaves him and the animals homeless.
As TV7 were eager to have a good story about the Doctor, his 3 dogs and the protesters that don't like him helping the strays, we ask that you now also film and broadcast "Part II" of the story: That the Doctor has been the victim of a “Witch Hunt” purely because he helps the strays on the street, and as a result he is now to be evicted from his home, meaning he will lose his livelihood, and doesn't know how to feed his family, nor where he will go.
Will you broadcast that too?
We believe that TV7 have been complicit in this tragedy, and we believe it is only just and fair that you now assist in sorting this situation out to a happy conclusion. We WILL win this fight, and TV7 can either be part of the solution for this story, or part of the problem.
We trust you will do the right thing.
Sincerely,
ABIGAIL PEREIRA
COCHAMBA, BOLIVIA
Link to article
Justice served!!!
June 25, 2013 - The Administrative Court in Smolian ruled in favour of Dr Litov and against the municipality of Devin.
According to the judge, the eviction notice, served at the end of March to Dr Litov was unfounded and flawed. Not a single shred of evidence was presented to the Court to substantiate the municipality's claims that Dr Litov was in breach of his tenancy contract. Тhe judge ruled all photographs of Borko, taken in his room, inadmissible and irrelevant to the case.
Furthermore, according to the judge "the lack of physical evidence, substantiating the municipality's claim is an infringement of the administrative procedure so fundamental, that it makes it impossible for the court to establish the very legal grounds of that claim".
As a result the administrative act /eviction notice/ as a whole is corrupt and void. In other words the message to the municipality of Devin was "Grow up and wise up"
According to the judge, the eviction notice, served at the end of March to Dr Litov was unfounded and flawed. Not a single shred of evidence was presented to the Court to substantiate the municipality's claims that Dr Litov was in breach of his tenancy contract. Тhe judge ruled all photographs of Borko, taken in his room, inadmissible and irrelevant to the case.
Furthermore, according to the judge "the lack of physical evidence, substantiating the municipality's claim is an infringement of the administrative procedure so fundamental, that it makes it impossible for the court to establish the very legal grounds of that claim".
As a result the administrative act /eviction notice/ as a whole is corrupt and void. In other words the message to the municipality of Devin was "Grow up and wise up"
For updates on Borko...
please follow his fan-page on Facebook and check out the
Justice for Borko website run by Gary Edwards,
founder of the Norton Animal Rescue Foundation.
On the website of the Norton Animal Rescue Foundation, you will also find
all information about the
Borko celebrity campaign
Justice for Borko website run by Gary Edwards,
founder of the Norton Animal Rescue Foundation.
On the website of the Norton Animal Rescue Foundation, you will also find
all information about the
Borko celebrity campaign