site.btaDeputy Interior Minister Says Regional Police Chief Acted Appropriately

Commenting on videos circulated on social media from the night of the incident involving the director of the Ruse Regional Police Directorate, Deputy Interior Minister Filip Popov told bTV on Tuesday evening that Senior Commissioner Nikolay Kozhuharov reacted appropriately and attempted to prevent an anti-social act.

Popov noted that various versions of the incident were being spread by sources outside the Interior Ministry, who perceive the events "in a subjective manner". According to him, the Ministry's version is clear. "The disinformation does not come from the Ministry of Interior," he added.

Earlier in the day, the Yes, Bulgaria party, part of the opposition coalition of Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB), demanded that Interior Minister Daniel Mitov dismiss everyone who participated in "spreading disinformation" about the incident in Ruse, which ended with Senior Commissioner Nikolay Kozhuharov being hospitalized on September 4 following a middle-of-the-night altercation with four youths.

Popov explained that Kozhuharov was returning home after midnight with friends and their children. In the circulated videos, a car can be seen passing at high speed near the people walking with him, narrowly missing one of the children and the police director's wife. The child was walking close to the cars, and the mother pulled him back to prevent him from being hit, Popov said.

Another video shows an attempt from someone in the car to hit Kozhuharov's neighbour. The police chief pressed the door to prevent a fight but was pushed from the inside, Popov explained.

Asked if participants in the altercation were tested for alcohol or drugs, Popov said only the driver was tested, adding that "tests cannot be conducted on pedestrians".

The Deputy Minister said that patrol cars and an ambulance arrived at the scene, and the ambulance later left. Kozhuharov’s condition deteriorated dramatically afterwards, and he underwent life-saving surgery, he said.

"The Interior Ministry did everything within its powers. All evidence has been handed over to the prosecution," the Deputy Minister said. Regarding calls for the resignation of Interior Minister Daniel Mitov, Popov said he sees no grounds for this demand. An investigation is underway, and everything will be clarified, Popov said.