Alleged Attackers of Rowers in Assenovgrad Remanded in Custody

Plovdiv District Court ruled on 10 July to hold in custody seven of the nine suspects detained for the beating of the local rowing club members in the South Bulgarian town of Assenovgrad. Two detainees were released on bail – one on 1,000 BGN bail and the other on 3,000 BGN bail.

They are accused of hooliganism with exceptional boldness and cynicism. Two of the arrested have been charged with medium bodily harm. Earlier on 10 July, the Assenovgrad District Court ruled to remand in custody two detainees involved in the mass clashes outside the hospital in Assenovgrad.

on 9th of july, residents of Assenovgrad held 12th protst in a row demanding strict penalties for the attackers of the young athletes from the rowing club.

On 26th of June, rowers from “Asenovets” Sports Club were training at the lake when a boat with a girl overturned in the water. A group of Roma people, who were on the other bank, began to boo and throw stones at the other athletes. The young rowers complained to the coach. He called the police, but later the conflict escalated and moved in the centre of Assenovgrad where the Roma reportedly assaulted the young rowers, their coaches and parents.