Bulgarian Interior Minister dismisses Blagoevgrad police chief

police misconduct journalist arrest Bulgaria Ministry of Interior Strumyani incident Iliyan Tuparov

Bulgarian Interior Minister Ivan Demerzhiev has dismissed Iliyan Tuparov, the Director of the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Interior (ODMVR) in Blagoevgrad. The decision follows a controversial incident in the village of Strumyani involving the forceful arrest of journalist Gergana Petrova.

Demerzhiev stated that the dismissal was prompted by the excessive use of force by officers on the ground and Tuparov’s failure to report the incident to the ministry in a timely manner. The arrest occurred during a visit to the flood-affected area by President Rumen Radev. According to the Ministry of Interior and the National Security Service, Petrova was detained after refusing to present identification and entering a restricted zone intended for journalists.

The incident, captured on video, has drawn sharp criticism from political opposition groups, including GERB and Democratic Bulgaria, who have called for explanations regarding the use of force and the legality of the detention. President Radev has ordered formal investigations into both the Ministry of Interior and the National Security Service to determine if authorities exceeded their legal mandates.

Entities

Gergana Petrova · Iliyan Tuparov · Ivan Demerzhiev · Ministry of Interior · Rumen Radev

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] Police response in Strumyani exceeded necessary and legal actions. www.actualno.com · www.plovdiv24.bg · www.vesti.bg
[● 2 SOURCES] Journalist Gergana Petrova was detained after refusing to show identification and entering a protected zone. www.plovdiv24.bg · www.vesti.bg
[● 2 SOURCES] President Rumen Radev ordered investigations into the Ministry of Interior and the National Security Service regarding the arrest. www.actualno.com · www.vesti.bg
[● 3 SOURCES] Interior Minister Ivan Demerzhiev dismissed Iliyan Tuparov as the Director of the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Interior (ODMVR) in Blagoevgrad. www.actualno.com · www.plovdiv24.bg · www.vesti.bg
[● 3 SOURCES] The dismissal was based on the actions of police officers in the village of Strumyani. www.actualno.com · www.plovdiv24.bg · www.vesti.bg
[● 3 SOURCES] Iliyan Tuparov failed to report the incident involving the arrest of a woman in a timely manner. www.actualno.com · www.plovdiv24.bg · www.vesti.bg