Legal proceedings for physical assaults in Bulgaria and MK

Legal proceedings are underway regarding separate physical assault cases in the region.

In Bulgaria, the Veliko Tarnovo District Court has postponed the trial involving the assault of Nikolay Kozhuharov, the former director of the Ruse Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Interior. The proceedings were delayed due to the absence of one defendant and three legal representatives, alongside three postponement requests from the defense. The case involves four defendants: one accused of causing serious bodily harm to a police officer, and three others charged with minor bodily harm motivated by hooliganism. Due to the involvement of a minor, the trial is being held behind closed doors. The next hearing is scheduled for November 26, 2026.

In North Macedonia, the Basic Court in Ohrid has acquitted Iliya Spaseski and Borche Angelov of charges related to the violent assault on Hristiyan Pendikov, secretary of the Tsar Boris III association. This acquittal follows a retrial ordered by the Bitola Appellate Court after previous defendants were sentenced to eight months in prison. The court ruled that it had not been conclusively established that the defendants committed the crime or that the January 2023 attack, which caused Pendikov severe injuries including a broken jaw, fractured ribs, and vertebrae, was motivated by ethnic hatred.

Pendikov and his legal team have criticized the verdict as ‘shameful’, suggesting the decision implies that violence against Bulgarians in North Macedonia goes unpunished and undermines the rule of law. Pendikov further expressed concern that the ruling creates a sense of impunity, stating that the decision suggests ‘the hunt for Bulgarians is free.’ Bulgarian deputies attended the hearing to monitor the proceedings.