A clash between the Bulgarian journalist Sonya Koltuklieva and a security officer who was deployed to protect Parliament Speaker Mihaela Dotsova was witnessed by the Bulgarian journalist Sonya Koltuklieva. The incident was recorded in the footage and was circulated on social media and called for the arrest of the officer that was involved and for senior officials to be held responsible.
The incident in Sofia.
The journalist Koltuklieva approached Dotsova as she stood behind a parliamentary speaker as she walked in an official vehicle outside the Progressive Bulgaria parliamentary body. The journalist wanted to know why parliamentary hearings failed on the pardon given to Ognyan Atanasov, a convicted drug trafficker known as the “Petrich Escobar.”
Bulgaristan’dan skandal görüntüler. Parlamento Başkanı Mihaela Dotsova’ya soru sormak isteyen gazeteci Sonya Koltuklieva, korumalar tarafından yere düşürüldü. Gazeteci yerde hareketsiz kalırken Parlamento Başkanı, çakarlı araçlarla olay yerinden uzaklaştı. Olay, Bulgaristan’da büyük öfkeye neden olurken Parlamento Başkanı’nın istifası istendi.
— Aykırı (@aykiri) October 22, 2026
The extraordinary parliamentary sitting that had been scheduled for October 21 failed because parliament failed to have a quorum. Video footage published by Bulgarian media shows Koltuklieva opening the car door again after it was closed. She continued to question Dotsova and a security officer shoved her away from the car. Koltuklieva fell on the pavement and the vehicle left. The officer was serving under Bulgaria’s National Service for Protection (NSP) or NSO as it is known in Bulgaria.
The agency is responsible for protecting public officials. The service immediately investigated its employees’ behaviour and informed the Military Prosecutor’s Office about the incident. Police officers must act within the law in response to anyone who tries to breach the security of those protected, it said.
Koltuklieva was taken to the Military Medical Academy in Sofia for medical examination and treatment before being discharged to home care. She later reported that she had had a fracture to her left shoulder. The hospital did not publicly confirm the full list of injuries described in some media reports. The security officer involved in the incident was arrested after he spoke to the Military Prosecutor's Office and gave testimony. Bulgarian media have identified him as Martin Varadinov.
A pre-trial investigation has been initiated although the existence of an investigation does not mean that anyone is guilty. In addition to the media, the incident has already raised questions about how officials and their security staff deal with journalists who try to ask questions in public. Security personnel are supposed to protect public officials but their actions remain subject to legal and administrative scrutiny.
Political Backlash and Calls for Accountability.
Bulgarian politicians rallied around Dotsova, calling on her to quit because in the present circumstances the confrontation was political and there was no need for an ordinary person to step down. President Iliana Iotova condemned what she called an inappropriate and excessive reaction against the security officer and said the circumstances had to be clarified. Dotsova expressed regret and promised a national investigation by the National Service for Protection.
She said she was startled when Koltuklieva opened the door of the car and that security personnel performed as they were trained to do. She said she had no power to direct officers on how to do their jobs. There has been pressure on the protection service's leadership. According to the reports from 23 October, Iotova was to ask for the resignation of NSP chief Major General Emil Tonev. Tonev had announced his intention to resign but not to be confused with the fact that his resignation had taken effect.
Debate Over Press Freedom and Security Protocols.
The footage has led to heated debate over press freedom, the conduct of security forces and the limits of journalist access to public officials. The officer’s actions have been criticised for the physical use of force against a reporter and the departure of the official vehicle while Koltuklieva remained on the ground. At the same time, Koltuklieva opened the door of a protected official’s vehicle and the process goes on. That is a legitimate issue of security boundaries, and what exactly is to be done by a police officer when a protected person is challenged. But security concerns alone do not prove that the force used was legal or proportionate.
The incident has also brought into question the political leadership and to what extent security agencies have a direct hand in the interaction of public officials and journalists. Calls for resignations are political and the internal investigation and processes before the Military Prosecutor’s Office are aimed at establishing the situations and whether or not there are any rules or laws broken. The investigation is ongoing and the case remains a developing one.
The officer’s conduct, the extent of Koltuklieva’s injuries and the potential institutional accountability will depend on what the competent authorities determine.
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