Ivan Demerdzhiev

Rising road fatalities and Bulgarian safety reforms

32 clusters · 57 sources · last updated 2 days ago

Latest: Bulgaria to centralize road safety and traffic monitoring

By late August, road safety and infrastructure concerns in Bulgaria remained high. Following a collective lawsuit filed in early August regarding unsafe national roads, police reports continued to document pedestrian inj

Stoyan Kolev arrest and extradition proceedings

4 clusters · 18 sources · last updated 2 days ago

Latest: Stoyan Kolev refuses voluntary extradition from Spain

Bulgarian authorities launched a nationwide search for influencer Stoyan Kolev after he escaped house arrest in Burgas on August 24. Kolev reportedly jumped from a window after his electronic monitoring bracelet triggere

Bulgarian drug trafficking and police corruption

5 clusters · 19 sources · last updated 4 days ago

Latest: Burgas authorities seize 340 kg of cocaine and marijuana

Bulgarian law enforcement has conducted several operations targeting drug trafficking and production across multiple regions. In the Burgas region, the General Directorate for Combating Organized Crime (GDBOP) previously

Iperih family murder-suicide investigation

2 clusters · 12 sources · last updated 4 days ago

Latest: Iperih tragedy: Investigation into family murder-suicide continues

Authorities in Iperih are investigating a murder-suicide involving a 42-year-old man who is suspected of killing his two daughters, aged 10 and 17, before taking his own life. The bodies were discovered on September 4 at

Bulgaria fentanyl lab case and emerging drug threats

5 clusters · 20 sources · last updated 6 days ago

Latest: Fentanyl crisis emerges in Bulgaria as users exhibit zombie-like symptoms

On 4 August 2026, Bulgarian police dismantled a high-tech fentanyl laboratory in Sofia’s Faculteta district, seizing equipment, chemicals, cash, and enough precursor to produce six to ten kilograms of the synthetic opioi

Bulgarian child welfare and education reforms

8 clusters · 12 sources · last updated 9 days ago

Latest: Bulgaria Education Minister maintains school budget model

Bulgaria continues to navigate reforms in child welfare, education, and juvenile justice. The Ministry of Education and Science has previously proposed standardizing early childhood development tracking and enhancing sup

Bulgarian juvenile crime legislative and school reforms

4 clusters · 11 sources · last updated 9 days ago

Latest: Bulgaria to propose new measures to improve school discipline

The Bulgarian government is advancing legislative and organizational reforms to address rising juvenile crime and aggression. Central to the reform is the replacement of the Law on Combating Anti-Social Behavior of Minor

Bulgarian regional and European security efforts

2 clusters · 8 sources · last updated 10 days ago

Latest: Bulgaria supports European Space Shield at EU defense meeting

Bulgaria is actively engaging in regional and European security initiatives to address evolving defense challenges. At a regional level, Bulgarian officials have sought to deepen cooperation with Poland and Romania to ma

Bulgaria interior ministry reforms and leadership changes

3 clusters · 13 sources · last updated 14 days ago

Latest: Bulgarian Interior Minister dismisses Blagoevgrad police chief

In late July 2026, Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev ordered the shutdown of a special unit within the Ministry of Interior, labeling it a “parasitic” structure that cost €3.7 million and employed 46 staff across six mi

Emko military plant explosion investigation

3 clusters · 5 sources · last updated 16 days ago

Latest: Bulgaria: Controlled ammunition detonations scheduled near EMKO plant

An investigation is underway following explosions and a fire at the Emko military plant in Belitsa, Bulgaria. The Gabrovo District Prosecutor’s Office has classified the incident as arson, noting that the explosions caus

Iran warns Bulgaria of retaliation over US military ties

14 clusters · 210 sources · last updated 17 days ago

Latest: Bulgarian Defense Minister warns of Iranian hybrid operations

Following the temporary deployment of U.S. KC-135 aerial-refueling tankers at Bulgaria’s Bezmer air base, Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov confirmed on 22 August 2026 that two aircraft have departed the facility. Stoyan

Bulgarian businessman murder/arson probe – manhunt issued

6 clusters · 16 sources · last updated 20 days ago

Latest: Bulgaria issues manhunt for suspect in millionaire's murder

The investigation into the July 2026 killing of 56-year-old entrepreneur Vladimir Yanakov (also known as Vlado Zagato) in Bankya continues. Police determined he was burned alive after a pre-meditated arson attack, with f

Bulgarian parliamentary corruption probes

3 clusters · 13 sources · last updated 22 days ago

Latest: Bulgaria Ministry of Interior and Prosecution clash over Delyan Peevski investigation

In late July 2026, Vençislav Petkov, a close associate of MP Radostin Vasilev, publicly accused Vasilev of diverting two‑thirds of his parliamentary salary for personal use, citing a luxury watch purchase and alleged cas

Turkey-Bulgaria security and diplomatic cooperation

2 clusters · 20 sources · last updated 22 days ago

Latest: Konya Science Festival opens with focus on national technology

Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi conducted official visits to Bulgaria to strengthen security and cultural ties. In Sofia, Çiftçi met with Bulgarian counterpart Ivan Demerdzhiev to address transnational crime, dr

Bulgarian public officials asset declarations

2 clusters · 7 sources · last updated 28 days ago

Latest: Bulgarian politicians' asset declarations reveal significant wealth

The Bulgarian National Audit Office released annual and introductory asset and interest declarations for over 16,000 public officials, including members of the caretaker government and parliament members elected in April