Bulgarian political controversy over presidential pardon

Bulgarian political figures have demanded transparency regarding a 2022 pardon granted by then-Vice President Iliana Yotova to Ognyan Atanasov, a convicted drug trafficker known as the ‘Petrich Escobar’. Critics, including Asen Vassilev of ‘We Continue the Change’, highlighted that Atanasov was released ten years before his sentence concluded and was reportedly detained again in 2025 with cocaine. The political group ‘Da, Bulgaria’ has sought access to official pardon requests and medical expert opinions to ensure accountability.

In response to the scrutiny, President Yotova defended the decision, stating it was a procedural act based on official documents and medical conclusions provided by commissions appointed by the Minister of Justice. She noted that the medical expertise indicated the individual should not have been able to move, remarking that had she known he would recover his mobility, she would likely not have made the decision. The Presidency maintains that the pardon followed a thorough review by a seven-member special commission and that specific decree details are protected under privacy laws.