Ivo Hristov criticizes handling of Plovdiv juvenile murder case

Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister Ivo Hristov has criticized the tendency to refer the suspects in a brutal Plovdiv murder as merely "children," calling it an "dangerous indulgence." The remarks follow the murder of 37-year-old Georgi Kusev on August 4 at Mladezhki Hill.

According to court details, five minors allegedly beat Kusev for over an hour with exceptional cruelty and humiliation before stealing 30 euros from him. The victim later died from his injuries. The suspects reportedly used the stolen money to buy food immediately after the incident.

Hristov emphasized that while discussions regarding education and upbringing are useful for prevention, a crime of this magnitude requires clear legal qualifications and personal responsibility. He also expressed support for Judge Petko Minev, who decided to keep the five minors in custody due to the extreme violence of the act. The decision by the Plovdiv District Court to allow certain details to be made public sparked debate regarding the standard practice of closed-door proceedings for juvenile cases.