Two charges were brought against journalists Dimitar Stoyanov, who pulled a gun on a NRA employee

The prosecutor’s office filed two charges against journalists Dimitar Stoyanov, who pulled a gun on a NRA employee –

criminal responsibility is for hooliganism and for threatening to kill with a combat pistol.

The pre-trial proceedings were initiated for crimes under Art. 144, paragraph 3, item 1, paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code and under Art. 325, para. 1 of the Criminal Code, reported by the Sofia District Prosecutor’s Office.

A “cash guarantee” in the amount of BGN 5,000 was taken against the accused.

During a search of Dimitar Stoyanov’s home, two combat pistols and a carbine were found and seized

The Sofia District Prosecutor’s Office prosecuted a 43-year-old man for hooliganism and threatening to kill with a combat pistol, the state prosecution reports.

They report the following: After a report was filed about a conflict between two persons, a pre-trial proceeding was initiated as a matter of urgency in Peto RU – Sofia. In the course of it, it was established that on 22/04/2024 at around 18:00 on Vasil Petleshkov Street in the capital the accused D.S. threatened to kill PL by pointing a combat pistol at his head. The threat aroused legitimate fear in the man.

It has been established that the actions of D.S. are obscene, grossly violating public order and expressing clear disrespect for society, as, in addition to pulling out a combat pistol in a public place, he also inflicted numerous blows with his feet and hands on the head and body of P.L. The accused also made many insulting remarks about the man, threatening to “break his head”.

So far in the course of the investigation, witnesses have been interviewed and committed searches of D.S.’s home, during which two combat pistols and a carbine were found and seized. A supervising prosecutor has given instructions for the preparation of three expertises – video-technical, ballistic and forensic-medical.

The Sofia district confirmed the arrest warrant for BIRD.BG journalist Dimitar Stoyanov, but ordered that he be released from jail immediately, BNT and bTV reported earlier.

Stoyanov was detained yesterday after a NRA employee reported to the police that the journalist had threatened him with a gun. According to unofficial information, the reason for the scandal was a parking notice. Two legally owned weapons were seized from the journalist.

Dimitar Stoyanov was brought by the Fifth District Office to the Sofia District Court in handcuffs. The defense asked that the detention order be lifted.

“This is pure self-defense. Dimitar Stoyanov could have made a different decision. He could have hurt his opponent with his arms and legs, as he is a long-time national kickboxing and karate competitor. Instead, he made a decision that is completely legal – he demonstrated, that he has a weapon and is ready to use it,” the journalist’s lawyer Nikolay Khadzhigenov explained to BNT.

In the courtroom, Dimitar Stoyanov told his own version of what happened. According to him, he was attacked around 5 pm yesterday for no reason by an unknown man. First with insulting words, and then he tried to hit the journalist. The situation escalated when the man, who turned out to be a NRA employee, showed aggression towards Stoyanov’s wife. He then pulled out his legally owned gun and issued a warning. It became clear in the hall that the detainees were tested for drugs and alcohol, which were negative. No such tests were performed on the tax official.

The prosecutor’s office claims that there is evidence that Stoyanov threw an object at the NRA officer, after which there was an exchange of blows. A short time later, the gun was pulled.

The executive director of the NRA, Rumen Spetsov, also reacted to what happened. In a statement sent to the media, he calls for zero tolerance for aggression and urges the case not to be politicized. Spetsov states that he firmly stands behind his employees and reminds that the agency’s activities are part of national security and it is unacceptable for its employees to become the object of threats.

“Given the emerging interpretations of the case, we clarify that the police fulfill their responsibilities and tasks according to law, regardless of the social, professional and other affiliation of those involved in a given situation,” the interior department is categorical.