site.btaSofia Mayor Terziev Calls on Authorities to Act Swiftly in Response to Arson Attack Against Bistritsa Mayor's Car, Home

The arson of a car and attempted arson of the home of Bistritsa Mayor Samuil Popov are unacceptable and require an immediate and visible response from the State, especially in light of previous threats and filed reports, Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev said, as quoted by the press centre of Sofia Municipality. He expressed strong outrage over the act against the Mayor of the large village near Sofia. 

Sofia Municipality recalled that in recent months the Mayor of Bistritsa had filed reports with the competent institutions regarding the illegal dumping of land mass and unlawful landfills in the area, as well as threats made against him. Probes were carried out in response to these reports, but the case raises questions about the effectiveness of the measures taken and the need for genuine prevention, the statement said.

"Why is the scenario the same every time – there are reports, there are warnings, there are threats, and then an attack follows? Where are the preventive actions of the security services, where is the Interior Ministry and [outgoing Minister] Daniel Mitov? How many more serious cases must occur before the Ministry’s leadership assumes political responsibility?" Terziev is quoted as saying.

The State cannot react after the fact – it is obliged to prevent such incidents, Terziev said. The Sofia Mayor called for a swift, transparent and effective investigation to identify both the perpetrators and any possible instigators. According to him, an attack against an elected representative of local government is an attack against institutions and against citizens’ right to be represented without fear or pressure. 

Sofia Municipality expects concrete action and public accountability from the competent authorities.

Earlier, the Interior Ministry told BTA that active work is under way on the case involving the arson of the car and front door of Bistritsa Mayor Samuil Popov. A report was received between 1:30 a.m. and 1:40 a.m. overnight that the Mayor’s car had been burned and that the entrance door of his house had also been affected, the Ministry said.