Gergana Petrova demands accountability after police removal in Strumyani

An incident involving the forced removal of activist Gergana Petrova during President Rumen Radev’s visit to the village of Strumyani has sparked controversy regarding police conduct. Petrova has labeled her detention as illegal, claiming that officers used physical force by grabbing and pushing her while attempting to place her in a patrol car.

Petrova stated that she was filming in a public space and suggested that a request for identification was merely a pretext for her removal. She noted that while her ID was in her vehicle, she had a photo of it on her phone, which officers allegedly ignored. She also contended that while others present lacked identification, she was the only one subjected to physical force.

The Ministry of Interior and the National Security Service stated that Petrova had entered a restricted journalistic zone and refused to provide identification. In response to the public outcry following video footage of the incident, President Rumen Radev has ordered an investigation. Political parties, including GERB, PP, and 'Da, Bulgaria', have also called for explanations regarding the treatment of the activist.