We are extremely concerned with the decision of the Libyan court. To our deep regret the court in Tripoli didn’t take into consideration the numerous evidences proving the innocence of the Bulgarian nurses. We cannot accept a decision ignoring the very clear facts, confirmed, among others, in the most recent research of world’s leading experts, rejecting any connection between the work of the Bulgarian medical staff and the HIV infection in the Benghazi hospital. This verdict is clearly setting back the efforts to solve this painful case.

Over the last years the Bulgarian people and the international community have expressed strong sympathy and solidarity with the faith of the infected children and their families. We have made and we shall continue making our best to find means and ways to relieve their pain and to prevent such tragedies from happening in the future. We are grateful to the involvement of many people and governments in these efforts.

But at the same time we firmly believe that any linkage of this tragedy to the work of the Bulgarian nurses and the Palestinian doctor is absolutely unfounded and misleads the Libyan people and the concerned families.

The protraction of this judicial case for eight years now is a strong argument to require a clear commitment of the Libyan institutions and the leadership of the country. We strongly urge the Libyan authorities, including the judicial system not to delay any further the final conclusion of the trial and to allow for the return of the Bulgarian nurses and the Palestinian doctor to their home countries. After eight years of detention in the Libyan prisons they deserve justice and a fair and speedy trial.

We assure our compatriots and the Palestinian doctor that the Bulgarian government will continue to spare no effort fighting for their right to justice and putting an end to this painful case. We thank our partners, the international community, the medical and scientific community, the human rights organisations and the other NGOs, as well as the world media, for standing besides us in our right cause. We call on their even more active support until the five nurses and the doctor return home.