Attack on the head of the Ministry of Interior-Ruse: reactions from SFSMVR and "Da, Bulgaria"

SFSMVR and "Da, Bulgaria" with sharp reactions after the attack on the Director of the Ruse Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs

The attack on Senior Commissioner Nikolay Kozhuharov, Director of the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Ruse, is much more than an isolated criminal act. This is a direct assault on the statehood and security of all Bulgarian citizens. Such is the categorical position, distributed by the Union Federation of Employees in the Ministry of Internal Affairs (SFSMVR) on their official website. In its statement, the union strongly condemns the incident, emphasizing that

"any assault on a police officer – regardless of their position in the hierarchy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, is interpreted by us as an assault against the state".

The attack on a high-ranking law enforcement officer is not just a violation of the law, but

"a direct threat to the rule of law and the democratic order".

SFSMVR is convinced that the state's response must be

"firm, consistent, and unequivocal".

The union condemns any attempts at vigilantism and taking justice into one's own hands, as such actions undermine the authority of the investigative bodies and institutions as a whole.In a broader context, SFSMVR draws attention to the unstable international environment, marked by political, economic, and financial upheavals. Against this backdrop, Bulgaria, as an external border of the European Union, faces increased challenges such as migration flows, hybrid threats, and organized crime, which take advantage of the state's weaknesses. According to the union,

"any assault against a police officer and any form of aggression against employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs"

affects not only the national level but also directly influences the sustainability and security of the country as a member of the EU. In this sense, the undermining of the authority of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the aggression against its employees are qualified as

"a direct threat to the stability of the state and to Bulgaria's role as a reliable partner in the European security system".

A call for unity and an end to the political use of the Ministry of Internal Affairs

In its position, SFSMVR points out that security is a shared responsibility between the state, society, and the individual citizen. Institutions, including the police, cannot guarantee order and peace on their own without solidarity and support from society. The union emphasizes that only through trust, respect, and mutual responsibility can the threats that undermine the democratic order be countered.In this spirit, SFSMVR appeals to the political and professional leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for a united, categorical, and unconditional reaction in every case of undermining the authority of the employees in the ministry, regardless of their position. According to them, this is the only way to protect institutional authority and to send a clear signal that the state will not tolerate aggression against its employees.At the end of its statement, the union also insists on ending the political use of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. SFSMVR believes that only by focusing on professionalism, the law, national security, and public interest can the trust of citizens and the effective fulfillment of the ministry's mission be guaranteed.

"Da, Bulgaria" and the Ruse Court with positions on the case

While the union was distributing its position, the political party "Da, Bulgaria" also came out with a sharp statement on the case. During a briefing, party representatives demanded the release of

"everyone in the chain who participated in "hiding information from the public about the case with the director of the Ruse Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Senior Commissioner Nikolay Kozhuharov".

The request comes after the distribution of video materials on social networks, filmed on the night of the incident.Regarding the events, the Ruse District Court distributed an official statement, which states that the court is

"a main pillar of the rule of law".

The institution stated that they work

"in accordance with the law and their internal conviction while observing the basic principles that guarantee equality of the parties, a fair trial, and legal security for all citizens".

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Filip Popov stated that

"various versions are spread by sources that are outside the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which "subjectively" perceive what happened".

According to him,

"the version of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is one"

and

"the misinformation does not come from the Ministry of Internal Affairs".