The two men detained for the killing of the Bulgarian border police officer will stand trial in Edirne

The two men accused of the shooting at the Bulgarian-Turkish border, in which junior inspector Petar Bachvarov died, are standing trial in Edirne. The two were arrested yesterday, November 8, in an operation of the gendarmerie. During the search, the hunting rifle with which the Bulgarian policeman was shot dead, as well as 23 rounds of hunting ammunition, were seized.

The two suspects detained for the fatal shooting of the Bulgarian border guard are Turkish citizens

The Turkish media said that the two have a police record for multiple thefts.

Earlier in the day, Bulgaria’s caretaker Minister of Interior Ivan Demerdzhiev confirmed that the detainees are brothers. They were not trying to cross the barrier, but were waiting for other "victims" of theirs. However, the minister did not give further details so as not to hamper the investigation.

After the funeral of the murdered policeman in Elhovo, minister Demerdzhiev commented that the problems that have accumulated in the Border Police for 10 years - the reduction of staff, the construction of a protective facility which is simply window dressing and the problems with the equipment of the police officers - cannot be transferred to the current leadership of the Ministry of Interior.

Many relatives, friends and colleagues of Junior Inspector Petar Bachvarov, who was killed during patrol at Bulgaria’s border with Turkiye, came to the funeral to the town of Elhovo to say their final farewell to the police officer.

30-year-old Bulgarian border police officer shot dead during patrol for migrants at border with Türkiye

For heroism and courage and for outstanding achievements in the fight against crime and the preservation of order, Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev awarded Peter Bachvarov posthumously the Ministry' of Interior’s Badge of Honour.