site.btaSilent Vigil Held in Sofia to Honour Children Killed in Road Accidents

Citizens gathered outside the National Assembly in the capital for a silent vigil in memory of children who have lost their lives in road accidents, the organisers said on Sunday.

The event was organized by the Angels on the Road Association and the Siyana Popova Foundation under the motto Not One Child More. The organizers are seeking justice and calling for safer roads.

“We want to remember the children who passed away, without disturbing anyone or affecting the festive mood,” said Nikolay Popov, father of 12-year-old Siyana, to the media.

He said that the attacks against him, Martin Atanasov (an 18-year-old student who created an online map showing dangerous spots on Bulgarian roads, based on accident data) and Atanasov's website are still happening. Popov added: "No one can scare me. People can do what they want, but I have nothing left to lose."

In response to a question from BTA about the source of these attacks and whose interests are involved, Popov said: “They come from those who profit from road construction fraud – the ones who used low-quality asphalt to repair the Sofia–Pleven road, which led to Siyana’s death.”

“We are here to prevent more children from becoming victims on the roads,” said Krasimir Arsov, the father of 14-year-old Filip Arsov, who lost his life in a crash in central Sofia. He also shared hope that changes will be made, stating that their efforts will go on until real results are seen.

A similar vigil took place in Plovdiv, South Central Bulgaria, on the same day.

Nikolay Popov, whose daughter Siyana died in a road accident on March 31, 2025, has criticised the country’s road safety system as ineffective, citing lack of institutional control, poor road conditions and speeding as major causes of accidents. He has called for leadership changes in key road safety agencies and has set up a coalition against the “war on roads,” inviting media, NGOs, the transport sector and authorities to join.