Parliament speaker Mihaela Dotsova went to the Military Prosecutor's Office today to see journalist Sonya Koltukliyeva and tell her in person that she was sorry for an incident involving her official car. She called what happened completely unacceptable and said it must be put right.
Earlier today, deputy speaker Atanas Atanasov called on Dotsova to resign over the same incident.
What happened before: Atanasov called on Dotsova to resign after incident between National Protection Service and journalist
"I will ask the head of the National Protection Service to take the toughest possible steps, because this must not happen," Dotsova told reporters. She also plans to ask for a full check and transparency.
She first went to the Military Medical Academy, where Koltukliyeva had been in the emergency department. By the time she arrived, the journalist had left. Dotsova learned that Koltukliyeva was at the Military Prosecutor's Office and went there. The two spoke face to face.
Dotsova gave her version of the incident. She said Koltukliyeva opened the car door just as she was getting in, which startled Koltukliyeva too. The door was then shut and the car drove off with Dotsova inside. She said she learned what happened next from the media, and that is why she came.
Dotsova said she was deeply sorry, above all as a person and as a woman, and that she had told Koltukliyeva so in person. She said she came for personal reasons, out of respect for all professionals and for everyone who does their job honestly.
"I have the greatest respect for the journalist's profession, and I value everyone's work, no matter what views they hold," Dotsova said. She said that is how things should work in a democratic society.