Bulgarian journalist Sonya Koltuclieva is in hospital after being knocked down by a National Defence Service ( The NSO) outside party headquarters )Bulgaria Progress in Sofia.
The event has prompted strong political reactions and calls for the resignation of Parliament Speaker Mihaela Dotsova and NSO leader Emil Tonev.
Koltuccieva is being treated for severe shoulder pain and may need surgery. Doctors are also conducting further tests to exclude internal injuries.
The event occurred on Thursday, when the journalist was trying to direct Dotsova’s questions about parliamentary sessions for a contracting presidential pardon.
The footage that circulates on the internet shows Koltucliva opening the door of the Parliament Speaker’s vehicle before a security officer can push her back, striking her on the sidewalk. Then the convoy leaves the scene.
The journalist has indicated that she remembers falling to the ground, while later she has experienced nausea, headaches, and severe pain in her shoulder. Initially, it received treatment at the Sofia Military Medical Academy, to be later laid down at the Shoen Sophia Hospital.
The Military Prosecutor has initiated preliminary procedures, while the officer involved, Martin Varadinov, has issued his statement. In parallel, the National Defence Service has opened an internal investigation into the incident.
Parliament Speaker Mihaela Dotsova described the event as unacceptable and expressed regret to the journalist. She claimed she was shocked when Koltucliva opened the vehicle door and did not see exactly what happened next. Dotsova pledged that he would seek full transparency and investigation of the officer’s actions.
President Iliana Yotova, also overseeing The NSO condemned the officer’s actions, stressing that journalists should be able to exercise their profession freely and fearlessly.
The incident has also sparked strong reactions to Bulgarian politics, where party G ERB has indicated that it is collecting signatures for calling an extraordinary parliamentary session and trying to sack Dotsova from the post of speaker of Parliament. /Top Channel