Dana Nacheva, the first wife of the late journalist Milen Tsvetkov, has called for changes to the justice system and to the laws on driving after taking drugs and alcohol. She made the call in a written statement after the court ruling of 22 October.

On that day the Sofia City Court heard a request from Kristiyan Nikolov for early release on parole. He is serving 9 years in prison for the crash on Easter Sunday, 19 April 2020, in Sofia, which killed Tsvetkov.

The background: Court to decide whether Hristian Nikolov can leave prison early

Nacheva did not comment on the ruling. She said only that a convicted prisoner has the right, under certain conditions, to ask for early release on parole.

She said her side in the case did not seek the longest possible sentence. It wanted clear and firm justice, and a precedent that would send a signal in similar cases in future.

"The tragedy is a fact, and the pain remains," Nacheva wrote. She said the time since 19 April has been painful throughout, and that the pain has overshadowed Easter for her ever since. She said it is rarely mentioned that every news story about that date makes her and Tsvetkov's loved ones relive the trauma.

She said Tsvetkov died too young and still had much to give to society. Many people, and society as a whole, see him as a symbol of free speech and truth, and for them his loss is a wound that will not heal.

Nacheva acknowledged that most people expect revenge, but said another view should also be heard. She said drivers like the convicted man come from a setting in which driving after drugs and alcohol is seen as normal. If society wants to be modern and civilised, the laws must apply to everyone, she added.

Nacheva insisted that the state, the law and society must urgently rethink how they support and protect victims and the families of those killed in such cases. She said they need a firm outcome to rebuild their lives.

"I hope that one day we will see changes that give us quick justice, clearly written laws and institutions," she wrote.