Journalist injured after altercation with security detail in Sofia

A public outcry has emerged in Bulgaria following an incident on October 23, 2026, where a journalist was forcibly pushed to the ground by a security officer. The event occurred outside the offices of the 'Progressive Bulgaria' party in Sofia, as journalist Sonia Koltuklieva attempted to question the Speaker of Parliament, Mihaela Dotsova.

Koltuklieva had been seeking answers regarding repeated delays in parliamentary hearings concerning presidential pardons granted by former Vice President Iliana Iotova. After Dotsova entered her vehicle to avoid questioning, Koltuklieva approached the car and attempted to open the door. A member of the National Protection Service (NSO) responded by pushing the journalist, causing her to fall onto the pavement. Eyewitnesses at the scene verbally confronted the officer, labeling his conduct as abusive. Following the altercation, Koltuklieva was transported to a local hospital for medical treatment.

This incident follows broader tensions regarding the transparency of pardons issued during Iotova’s vice-presidency. While reports confirm the journalist's hospitalization, there is currently no official statement from the NSO regarding potential disciplinary actions against the officer involved.