NSO officer drags journalist to the ground during interview with Bulgaria's parliamentary president

On Thursday, a National Security Service officer violently pushed PIK reporter Sonya Koltuklieva to the ground as she tried to question Parliament President Mihaela Dotsova outside the Progressive Bulgaria party office in Sofia. The assault left Koltuklieva with a concussion, a fractured clavicle and a shoulder dislocation, requiring transport to the Military Medical Academy. Bystanders shouted protests, labeling the guard’s actions as brutal, while Dotsova left the scene in an official limousine without checking on the injured journalist.

Opposition parties, including GERB-UDF and Bulgaria Democratică, called for Dotsova’s dismissal and organized a petition for an extraordinary National Assembly session. President Iliana Yotova said she would request the resignation of NSO chief Emil Tonev, who expressed willingness to step down, and the NSO launched a formal inquiry. The European Journalists Association - Bulgaria demanded a swift, transparent investigation and accountability for the officer and his superiors. Dotsova later visited the hospital to express regret over the incident.