Police received 64 reports of election law violations and breaches of citizens' political rights by 19 October, the Interior Ministry said. Of these, 59 concern vote buying.

One report is about illegal campaigning and four are about other violations linked to the election. Police have opened five criminal cases.

The ministry says it does not see much activity in so-called vote buying. It says it will continue its preventive work so that people can vote freely and fairly.

Since 28 September, the Interior Ministry, the Sofia police directorate and regional directorates have been working across Bulgaria under an approved plan against crimes against political rights and election law violations. The aim is to detect, prevent and expose criminal activity that is being planned or carried out. Teams from the Chief Directorate Gendarmerie, Special Operations and Counter-Terrorism also take part.

So far police have carried out 151 special operations and drawn up 625 warning notices. Other operations target everyday crime and aim to cut road crashes with injuries.

An operational headquarters at the ministry coordinates how police units prepare for the election of president and vice president. It handles action against crimes against political rights, public order and fire safety. Police also work with the so-called known contingent. These are people about whom there was information of crimes against citizens' political rights in earlier elections.

Police work to a set plan and are in constant contact with the Central Election Commission, the prosecutor's office, the State Agency for National Security (DANS) and other institutions. The ministry's main and regional directorates have set up information groups that sum up data on the election. Every report goes to the relevant unit to be checked.

The ministry is also monitoring for cyberattacks. Lyubomir Nikolov, acting chief secretary of the Interior Ministry, spoke to the media a few days ago. He said cyberspace is being monitored. Efforts will be made to prevent an attack, mainly on election day and the day before.

People can report violations throughout the campaign by phone on 02/90 112 98 or by email at [email protected].