Bulgarian court orders detention of 19-year-old accused of cyberattacks

A Bulgarian court has ordered the continued detention of 19-year-old Marian Parushev, who is accused of conducting large-scale cyberattacks against state and municipal institutions, private companies, and national media outlets, including Bulgarian National Television (BNT) and Bulgarian National Radio (BNR).

According to investigators from the General Directorate for Combating Organized Crime (GDBOP), the suspect allegedly used artificial intelligence and VPN services to mask his digital footprint while gaining unauthorized access to information systems. The prosecution claims Parushev extracted personal data, including names, phone numbers, and purchase histories, which he then offered for sale on Telegram and various hacker forums using cryptocurrency for payments.

The investigation suggests the attacks affected approximately a dozen companies and thousands of users. Authorities also identified calls for the distribution of “Cobra Stealer,” a malware designed for information theft. Parushev faces four criminal charges, one of which carries a potential prison sentence of five to seven years. The defense has contested the evidence, arguing that the suspect has no prior criminal record and that witnesses have not directly identified him.