site.btaMedia Review: September 5

ATTACK ON RUSE POLICE CHIEF

The front pages of Telegraph, Trud, and Duma on Thursday are dominated by the attack on Senior Commissioner Nikolay Kozhuharov, chief of the Ruse Regional Police Directorate. Currently, Kozhuharov is in critical condition in hospital after having been brutally attacked on Wednesday night, following a confrontation with a group of men allegedly drifting their cars recklessly. Four suspects have been detained in connection with the attack, three aged 19 and one underage suspect. One of the assailants reportedly attempted to flee the scene but was later apprehended by law enforcement. Telegraph cites police sources saying that the video surveillance footage from the area is being reviewed as part of the investigation.

Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) reports that on Friday the prosecuting magistracy will bring charges against the four detained individuals. They will face charges of hooliganism and of causing medium bodily harm to a law enforcement officer.

Duma reports that Kozhuharov was rushed to hospital in critical condition and underwent emergency surgery. Initially, doctors feared that one of his kidneys would need to be removed, but it was ultimately saved.

The assault has prompted swift reactions from senior officials. Telegraph quotes Interior Minister Daniel Mitov saying that the attack on Kozhuharov would be considered an attack against the state in any democracy. “In any democracy, an attack on a police officer is treated as an attack against the state. Such acts will be prosecuted with the harshest possible penalties,” he added. 

Trud cites Ruse Mayor Pencho Milkov, who wrote in a Facebook post: "To attack a person who works every day to maintain order and security, is an attack against our entire city". According to the Mayor, the incident is especially bitter given Kozhuharov’s personal commitment to combating youth violence in Ruse.

In an interview with Nova TV, Ruse Regional Governor Dragomir Draganov said that Kozhuharov was brutally attacked in front of his wife and underage child. Draganov described the incident as a “senseless act, uncharacteristic of the Ruse community,” and called it “an act of vandalism by young individuals who show no respect for the law”.

bTV featured a panel discussion on their morning talk show, where journalist Slavi Angelov commented that Ruse Mayor and Regional Governor presented "an idyllic picture of the city, a perfectly renovated street that encouraged people to drift on it, and an overall peaceful town." According to Angelov, this does not reflect reality, not only in Ruse but across the country. He stressed that public distrust in law enforcement remains one of the main problems that needs addressing. "Drifting is a problem in every city and requires an adequate nationwide response, not just in Ruse," Angelov added.

Bulgarian National Television (BNT) also covers the topic.

SUSPECTED JAMMING OF EC PRESIDENT'S FLIGHT TO BULGARIA

Capital weekly reports that Plovdiv Airport unexpectedly became the focus of international attention after a Financial Times (FT) article claimed that European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen’s plane experienced GPS jamming during its landing on September 1. According to the paper, official positions initially suggested Russian interference, but available flight data and expert analysis indicate that the aircraft was most likely not deliberately targeted.

GPS disruptions have been a recurring problem across large parts of European airspace for years, particularly since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The disruptions are linked to electronic warfare tactics deployed near Kaliningrad, Crimea, the Black Sea region, and along NATO’s eastern flank. Aviation data from public platforms such as FlightRadar24 and OpenSky Network, as well as reports from Bulgaria’s air traffic authorities, confirm a growing number of cases of jamming and spoofing since 2022, affecting both civil and military aviation.

The FT report was amplified by international outlets such as BBC, Reuters, and The Guardian. However, aviation experts and Open-Source Intelligence analysts cited by the paper are skeptical. They emphasize that while the aircraft did experience signal disturbance, pilots switched to alternative navigation systems and landed safely without resorting to “paper maps,” as originally claimed. Data also shows no prolonged circling over Plovdiv. 

Such incidents can serve both sides: an opportunity to push for stricter countermeasures against Russia for the EC, and a tool for counter-propaganda for Moscow. Bulgarian officials later clarified that the incident was not a targeted attack, but part of the ongoing electronic warfare in the region. The controversy risks undermining the credibility of future EU claims about Russian interference, while also portraying Bulgaria as a “weak link” in NATO security.

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In an editorial, Trud editor-in-chief Petyo Blaskov argues that Bulgaria should immediately file a lawsuit against the Financial Times and journalist Henry Foy over the publication of a false report about a dangerous incident during the landing of von der Leyen’s plane in Plovdiv. According to Blaskov, the reputational, political, and economic damage to Bulgaria is growing as the story is being repeated uncritically by European and global media. He stresses that although Bulgarian authorities eventually denied the report with facts and arguments three days after the event, this is insufficient to prevent lasting harm. Blaskov warns that unless firm legal action is taken, the case could inflict damage on the country’s international reputation comparable to the discredited allegations of Bulgarian involvement in the 1981 assassination attempt against Pope John Paul II. He emphasizes that the state must act immediately, describing the matter as one of “national dignity and honour.”

WATER CRISIS

Capital runs an article titled “Water or Death” which warns that climate extremes are turning water into a strategic political issue, with conflicts already visible worldwide and now increasingly relevant for the Balkans. Rising drought risk in Bulgaria, shrinking river flows, and the country’s dependence on cross-border waters put the issue directly on the national agenda. Bulgaria, long criticized for its inefficient management of water infrastructure, is increasingly finding itself in the strategic position of a "water donor" to the increasingly arid regions of Greece and Turkiye. Each summer, diplomatic talks over the transboundary rivers Arda, Mesta, Maritsa, and Tundzha grow more tense, as downstream demand rises amid prolonged dry periods. Against this backdrop, nationalist voices have begun to call for the defense of “Bulgarian interests” in water-sharing negotiations, a development that, experts warn, risks escalating into a broader regional dispute. 

The weekly continues its focus on water security with an article titled “Bulgarian Rivers No Longer Sufficient to Meet Regional Demand”. The most sensitive issue remains the Arda River, which flows from Bulgaria into Greece. Negotiations between Sofia and Athens over water release from Bulgarian dams in the Rhodope region are ongoing, as Greece demands more guarantees for irrigation in periods of drought. Capital underlines that Bulgaria’s primary interest is to preserve its ability to use water for energy production, irrigation, and drinking supplies. However, Greek concerns about agricultural losses, especially in the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, are pushing Athens to seek stronger commitments. 

While less prominent than those with Greece, Bulgaria also faces transboundary water management challenges with Turkiye. In recent years, during increasingly hot and dry summers, the lower reaches of the Maritsa River near border with Turkiye often dry up. Turkiye has repeatedly requested Bulgaria to release water from its reservoirs to maintain flow in the Maritsa and Tundzha, responding to severe drought conditions in the Edirne region. The water from the Maritsa is crucial for irrigating local rice fields, a key crop in the area. In summer 2024, despite technical talks between the ministries of both countries, Bulgaria refused water releases citing pressing domestic needs and alarmingly low water reserves. Tensions peaked again in summer 2025 after Maritsa nearly dried up by late June. Turkish farmers reported that drought conditions started earlier than usual. Greek farmers affected downstream also called for diplomatic intervention and urged a trilateral agreement between Bulgaria, Turkiye, and Greece.

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Mediapool publishes an overview of the only court case in Bulgaria related to a water crisis, noting that five years after the severe water shortages in the town of Pernik, the trial against former environment minister Neno Dimov remains unresolved at first instance. In 2019, despite critical water levels in the Studena Dam, local authorities delayed announcing restrictions ahead of local elections. A water rationing regime was finally introduced in November by newly elected mayor Stanislav Vladimirov, triggering public outrage and national media attention. Then-Minister of Environment, Dimov, became the primary target of a prosecution launched in early 2020. Although not a GERB party member, Dimov served as a coalition appointee. He spent eight months in custody before his trial began, a process that continues to this day, still at first instance. The case has shifted courts due to the closure of the Specialized Criminal Court and now sits with the Sofia City Court. Legal delays, compounded by multiple witness hearings requested by the prosecution have significantly stalled the case. 

Dimov was accused of approving monthly water usage schedules, including those for the Studena Dam. While his signature is on the documents, they were prepared by a specialized directorate within the ministry. His legal defense argues that the minister simply endorsed documents drafted by experts, a standard administrative procedure.

Meanwhile, Pernik no longer suffers from water shortages, but nearby municipalities including Breznik currently have their water supply rationed, and an emergency pipeline built from Sofia during the 2020 crisis remains unused. The broader issue persists. In 2025, discussions about a potential water crisis in Pleven mirror the Pernik situation - aging infrastructure, massive water losses, and unclear solutions. Unlike in 2020, however, there are no arrests, no high-profile scapegoats, and significantly less political fallout.

SOCIETY

24 Chasa leads with a survey showing that the midlife crisis has shifted dramatically earlier in life and is now observed as early as the age of 20. Researchers describe this as a crisis of the "desperate generation," fueled by constant social comparison, insecurity about the future, and the long-term effects of the pandemic. The daily notes that the idealized images of life presented on social media, combined with economic instability and global uncertainties, exacerbate the problem. Many young people experience exhaustion, loss of meaning, and declining health at a much earlier stage than previous generations. According to psychologists, the pressure to succeed quickly and match unrealistic standards creates chronic stress, which damages both mental and physical well-being.

According to international studies, people with such conditions lose between 10 and 20 years compared to the general population. The main reason is not suicide but accompanying health risks such as cardiovascular diseases, obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, and substance abuse. Doctors warn that mental illness is often underestimated as a factor for physical health. For example, depression increases the risk of heart disease by 18%, and schizophrenia by 20%. The biological effects of stress and the dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system worsen cardiovascular health. 

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Another article of 24 Chasa reports that nearly 800,000 Bulgarians are receiving disability pensions, with a 35% increase in the number of allowances granted. This means that more than one in five pensioners in the country is classified as disabled. The trend shows a steady increase in both beneficiaries and the funds allocated to them. The largest share of disability pensions is granted to people over 65, but there is also a significant increase among younger age groups.

Social security experts warn the system is under growing strain. The growth in disability pensions raises questions about medical assessments and the criteria used to determine incapacity for work. While institutions argue that the increase is partly due to better reporting and more comprehensive examinations, critics maintain that abuses in the system remain common. At the same time, trade unions and social workers insist that the high number of beneficiaries also reflects Bulgaria’s serious public health problems and poor working conditions, which often lead to disability before retirement age.

Social Policy Minister Borislav Gutsanov said that over 12,000 new personal assistants have been hired monthly under the Social Services Act, but demand continues to outstrip supply. 

CYBERSECURITY

Duma writes about the Thursday disruption of Google services, including its search engine, Gmail, and the video-sharing platform YouTube, which were unavailable to users in about 47 countries. Most affected were states on the Balkan Peninsula, as well as Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. Disruptions were also observed in some US cities, including New York and Chicago.

According to monitoring data, around 52% of users reported problems with the search engine, approximately 35% were unable to access websites, while 13% experienced other difficulties. 

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Speaking on the BNT’s morning show, cybersecurity expert Lyubomir Tulev said that the recent mass outage of Google services was largely a local problem. According to him, services were suspended for about two hours across Central and Southeastern Europe. Sporadic cases were reported in various countries, but the disruption was most pronounced in Bulgaria, Serbia, North Macedonia, Turkiye, and Greece.

The expert stressed that during such incidents people fear data leaks or compromised email accounts, but in this case, “all indications point to a disruption of the availability of information, not a breach of its confidentiality or integrity.”

Tulev noted that there has been no official statement from Google so far. He does not believe hacker groups were behind the outage, as they usually claim responsibility immediately. In response to his own inquiry, Google confirmed there was a problem and that engineers were working to resolve it.   

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Trud’s main story is about a wave of cyber fraud involving free QR code scanner apps, which can lead to unauthorized paid subscriptions, inflated mobile bills, and even international call charges. According to complaints received by the newspaper, several users have been “tricked” after scanning QR codes using free third-party apps. One such case involves Ivan and Evgeniya, who recently began working at a supermarket in Sofia. Along with their salary, they received BGN 100 in electronic food vouchers. The plastic card came with a QR code and instructions to install the service provider’s mobile app. After scanning the code through a free QR app they had downloaded, the couple was redirected to a webpage requesting personal data, including a phone number and email address. Thinking it was a requirement by the food voucher provider, Ivan began filling out the form. However, after being asked for additional details, he canceled the process. The next day, he received a text confirming a monthly subscription worth BGN 24.

The food voucher company, described as one of the most reputable in the country, responded immediately when contacted. Following an internal investigation, the company confirmed that the fraud had no connection to their systems or official app. 

Cybersecurity expert Jasen Tanev explained that this is a classic scam. “You download a free QR scanner, scan a code, and are shown ads or redirected to malicious websites. These apps often trick users into clicking on misleading links, leading to paid SMS subscriptions or even enabling international calls that rack up large bills in seconds,” he said. Tanev emphasized that built-in QR scanners on modern smartphones are safer, as they do not rely on third-party apps. He warned that malicious apps often contain hidden ads, gambling content, adult services, or so-called 'no-click' or 'video-click' traps that can compromise a device without the user’s direct interaction.