Parliament will hold an emergency session on Wednesday, 21 October, over the pardon of Ognyan Atanasov, known as the Petrich Escobar, it said on its website. The only item on the agenda is a hearing with prison chiefs, doctors, the State Agency for National Security (DANS), the Interior Ministry, the organised crime unit (GDBOP) and the Pardons Commission.

A first attempt to hold the session on 13 October failed because too few MPs turned up to make a quorum. Last week, MPs collected signatures for a new try.

The request comes from Asen Vasilev of "We Continue the Change" and a group of MPs. Nikolay Denkov, who leads the party's parliamentary group, told reporters in the lobby that "Democratic Bulgaria" and GERB-SDS back it. Vazrazhdane did not sign, Denkov said.

Atanasov, who is linked to drug trafficking, was pardoned by Decree No 119 of 5 December 2022.

MPs want to question Ivaylo Yordanov, chief commissioner and head of the Chief Directorate for the Execution of Sentences (GDIN), Svetoslav Penov, senior commissioner and head of Sofia prison, and Vasil Kordev, who ran the prison in November and December 2022. The list also includes the head of the "Medical Services in Places of Detention" unit at GDIN, the director of the Specialised Hospital for Active Treatment at Sofia prison, and the doctor who wrote or signed the medical report on Atanasov that was used for the pardon.

The head of DANS, the chair of the Pardons Commission at the president's office, the chief secretary of the Interior Ministry and the head of GDBOP are also invited.

MPs want to know how the medical reports and information on Atanasov's behaviour were prepared, checked and handed over. They will ask how the incident of 16 November 2022 was recorded, whether there is any sign of pressure or threats against doctors and their families, and how information was shared with the president's office. The questions also cover possible links between Atanasov and DANS and the Interior Ministry, and what checks were made.

The opposition says the ruling parties are hiding and putting an "umbrella" over President Iliana Yotova.

"Progressive Bulgaria" said it has seen the medical report and that Atanasov has illnesses that are incompatible with life.