Sculptor Vezhdi Rashidov is resigning as member of parliament. In a press release he says that besides leaving parliament, he is also leaving the party he is member of - GERB, and politics as such.

He does not say what the reason is, but on 7 August, Vezhdi Rashidov resigned as chair of the parliamentary culture and media committee, and also as a member of the GERB leadership.

• Sadistic violence against a young girl exposes serious problems of Bulgarian justice
• Thousands of people protesting across the country over case with abused 18-year-old girl
• The protests against violence against women continue
  

This took place after Rashidov made obscene and insulting comments, on an open microphone in plenary, connected with the amendments to the Protection Against Domestic Violence Act under discussion in parliament at the time. After his shocking remarks Rashidov apologized to “the whole of Bulgarian society and to the victims of violence”, saying he realizes the “language he used was unacceptable, especially during the current debate.”