The Bulgarian parliament does not support the proposal to abolish the state protection of Patriarch Neophytos, writes the Khrisma Center.

The Commission for Control over the Services of the National Assembly (Parliament) of the Republic of Bulgaria adopted in the first reading two draft laws on amendments to the Law on the National Guard Service (NSO).

The changes provide for limiting the circle of persons who use service security and specialized transport. The issue of restrictions also touched upon the head of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Neophytos. According to the proposed changes, the service should only guard the president, prime minister and chairman of the People’s Assembly. The chief prosecutor, the presidential administration, the president’s wife, members of the Council of Ministers, the Mayor of Sofia and the Bulgarian Patriarch remain outside the circle of protected persons.

“How is the patriarch important for national security? What part of national security is he? Will Eastern Orthodoxy cease to exist? <…> The protection of the religious head is just a disgrace! ” – said the deputy of the National Assembly Nikolai Khadzhigenov, one of the leaders of the party “fighters against the mafia” “Get up BG! We go!”. At the same time, he called the Bulgarian Patriarch “the chief of the Patriarchate.”

However, proposals to deprive the Patriarch of state protection did not receive support among fellow parliamentarians.