The Bulgarian Judo Federation (BFD) has defended its hiring of a French judo coach involved in a violent domestic incident with a former European champion judoka, saying Alain Schmitt is "a specialist to lead us to the Olympics in Paris" in 2024.
The Bulgarian federation announced on February 14 that Schmitt will manage the national women's judo team, sparking criticism from some rights activists.
BFD President Rumen Stoilov later told RFE/RL's Bulgarian Service that the federation "checked things out" and met with Schmitt twice before hiring the former bronze medalist in the half-middleweight category in the Judo World Championships in 2013.
"We are absolutely aware of the situation," Stoilov said. "A man who has not been convicted is innocent."
The November 27-28 incident outside Paris shook France and left 28-year-old Margaux Pinot, who was Schmitt's companion at the time, with a broken nose and other injuries.
SEE ALSO: 'Stalking, Threats, Deprived Of A Normal Life': A Bulgarian Domestic Violence Victim Speaks OutA French judge ruled that there was insufficient evidence to support Pinot's accusation of domestic violence, which she said occurred when he attacked her in bed in a drunken rage. French prosecutors have appealed that decision, and a number of athletes and celebrities have spoken out in her support.
Schmitt, who called it a "fight between lovers," has said Pinot attacked him.
"I am very happy and proud to represent a new nationality," Schmitt was quoted as saying after his Bulgarian appointment. "We're looking in one direction."
The Israeli Judo Federation terminated its contract with Schmitt after the incident, which took place hours before Schmitt was due to leave for Israel to coach the women's national team there.
"There is an ethical issue here, and it is to what extent we accept domestic violence as something normal, because this is a practice throughout our country," Julia Andonova, from the PULSE Foundation, an NGO that deals with domestic violence and other social ills, said.
The head of France's national judo federation, Stephen Nomi, expressed shock at the French court's initial rejection of the case, and French Sports Minister Roxana Maracineanu said of Pinot that "it is clear to me that she is the victim."
Schmitt's lawyer, Carolyn Wasserman, reportedly told French television that her client "is completely calm about his summons" in a French court of appeal and is "happy to fulfill his contract and received a very warm welcome from the Bulgarians."
The European Crime Prevention Network says that while domestic violence has been a problem in Bulgaria, it is also one of only a few European countries to have adopted laws specifically protecting people against it.
But women's rights activists warn of the signal that Schmitt's hiring could say about, or send to, Bulgarian society, where partners, husbands, and sons are suspected in the deaths of at least 15 women in the past year alone.
"This is the behavior of society and our country, in the face of institutions and politicians -- bullies are tolerated in our country," Nadezhda Dermendzhieva, executive director of the Bulgarian Fund for Women, said.
The next Summer Olympics are scheduled for Paris in 2024.