Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Interior Minister demands resignations over police chase death

Minister of the Interior Kalin Stoyanov.
Photo: BTA

Interior Minister Kalin Stoyanov has called for the dismissal of two senior police officers in Stara Zagora. This follows an incident in late 2023 in Stara Zagora in which 58-year-old former national wrestling champion Pavel Penev died after being chased by police. 

The coroner's conclusion was that the victim's death was due to asphyxiation. Police body-worn camera footage showed that five police officers tried to immobilise him by pushing him hard to the ground, causing Penev to suffocate, public broadcaster BNT reported. According to relatives of the deceased, he was not a violent person, but suffered from mental illness. Details of the call to the 112 emergency number that led to the police chase remain unclear.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Freezing temperatures expected in most regions of Bulgaria on Friday

On Friday, the minimum temperatures in Bulgaria will be between - 20°C and - 5°C. In Sofia, it will be around minus 13°C.  During the day, it will be mostly sunny. There will be a weak, in the eastern regions to moderate wind from the..

published on 2/20/25 7:35 PM

Hackers claim they have data from the Supreme Administrative Court

Hacker group Ransomhouse announced on its website that it has data leaked from the information systems of the Supreme Administrative Court. As evidence, documents with lists of names and personal data of employees, as well as various documents have..

published on 2/20/25 6:38 PM

Bulgarian producers want more farmers' markets

The situation in the country illustrates the urgent need for the state to create conditions for holding more farmers' markets, where farmers can sell their produce directly to consumers. This was stated by the Bulgarian Farmers' Union in connection..

published on 2/20/25 5:31 PM