AEJ Calls for Accountability over National Service for Protection Officer’s Use of Force Against Journalist

The Association of European Journalists – Bulgaria is calling for accountability over the brutal use of physical force by an officer of the National Service for Protection (NSP) against Sonya Koltuklieva, a reporter for the PIK website, the organisation said.

Equally reprehensible is the fact that the perpetrator and his colleagues left the scene without checking on the injured woman’s condition, providing first aid or calling emergency services, the organisation said in a statement to the media.

The Association of European Journalists is calling for a swift and transparent investigation into the incident and for the perpetrator, his colleagues and his superiors to be held accountable.

Regardless of whether Koltuklieva’s actions constituted a provocation, the National Service for Protection stipulates that “officers and sergeants of the National Service for Protection are obligated, whenever possible, to take all necessary measures to avoid endangering the lives and health of members of the public". The video footage shows that the officer acted in breach of this provision and does not appear to have taken care to avoid endangering the injured woman’s health and life, the Association said.

Separate from the National Service for Protection’s criminal and disciplinary liability is the question of the governing authorities’ political responsibility, the Association of European Journalists commented. The organisation said it was concerning that Speaker of Parliament Mihaela Dotsova had made no attempt to instruct the security officers to remain at the scene and assist the injured woman, or at least check on her condition.

“Although we have repeatedly drawn attention to the sensationalist nature and disregard for ethical and professional standards by websites such as PIK, in this specific situation, Koltuklieva had a perfectly reasonable question for Dotsova regarding the work of the National Assembly. Instead of answering, the member of parliament took advantage of her security detail to hide in the car,” the Association commented.

The National Service for Protection ordered an immediate investigation into the incident involving one of its officers and a journalist. The release of footage on social media was followed by political reactions and calls for resignations. “As a person and as a woman, I express my deepest regret over what happened,” Speaker of Parliament Mihaela Dotsova told journalists following the incident.