Controversy over arrest of activist during Radev’s visit to Strumyani

Controversy erupted on August 28 over the arrest a local civic activist during Prime Minister Roumen Radev’s visit to inspect Strumyani, which was hit by severe flooding some days earlier.

Video of Gergana Petrova’s arrest by the Pirinsko website and caused a wave of outrage.

“I haven’t done anything wrong, I haven’t broken the law. This is my village,” Petrova repeats as three police try to get her into the car.

“I won’t get in the car, leave me to go home to my child,” she says, as the three police officers try to force her into the car. At the same time, voices of the public can be heard saying: “Why are you detaining her, you have no right.”

The video showed police handcuffing Petrova without explaining the reason for her arrest or explaining her rights.

Petrova regularly reports on social networks on the dire situation in the region and the lack of an adequate response from the authorities.

She also published numerous photos of the disaster in Strumyani and the damage caused by the torrential rains. She has posted about the damage to the infrastructure and water and sanitation installations.

After media reports described Petrova as a journalist, the Association of European Journalists – Bulgaria (AEJ – Bulgaria) swiftly issued a statement demanding that the Interior immediately respond to the reasons for the detention of civil activist and social media content creator Petrova during the government delegation’s visit.

Petrova is known in the region as a volunteer and administrator of local groups on social networks and could also fall into the category of so-called “citizen journalists”, AEJ – Bulgaria said.

“AEJ – Bulgaria reminds that the authorities are obliged to respect the rights of citizens, including their right to free expression of opinion and peaceful protest, and have the right to detain them only under strictly defined conditions,” the association said.

Democratic Bulgaria co-leader Ivailo Mirchev said on Facebook that he has already submitted a parliamentary question to the Interior Ministry regarding the arrest of Gergana Petrova.

“I insist that the Ministry of Interior authorities clarify the reason for the arrest, the use of force and the handcuffing of a woman by several police officers,” Mirchev said.

“I do not believe that the National Security Service and the Ministry of Interior should be involved in clearing the terrain during the visits of the prime minister, whoever he may be, and therefore I want clarification of all the facts and circumstances surrounding this arrest,” he said.

The Interior Ministry said in an August 18 statement that the ministry had been contacted for assistance by National Security Service officers.

According to their information, a woman tried to enter the area specially designated for journalists, the ministry said.

She was asked several times to present her identity document and journalist’s card. After she failed to do so, the National Security Service officers turned to the Ministry of Interior authorities for assistance and to ensure safety.

“She was forcibly taken to the district office for identification. A warning protocol was drawn up for disturbing public order, as well as an act under the Bulgarian Personal Documents Act, since she was not carrying any. She was then released,” the ministry said.

The government information service said that Radev had ordered an investigation into the case, including whether the National Security Service or Interior Ministry had exceeded their authority.

The National Security Service said that they had sought assistance from the Interior Ministry authorities “to establish the identity of a person who made repeated attempts to breach the guarded area in the immediate vicinity of a person guarded by the National Security Service during his visit.

“After the person’s demonstrative refusal to cooperate and disregard of legally regulated orders, measures were taken by the Ministry of Interior authorities to establish his identity, in accordance with the legal order,” the National Security Service said.

GERB demanded that Radev and Interior Ministry Ivan Demerdzhiev answer publicly and personally what prompted the showy arrests of citizens in Strumyani, Petrova.

The party asked on what legal basis it was necessary to forcibly detain and handcuff a journalist.

“Is the attempt to ask questions the real reason for the arrest? Who issued the order for the police officers’ actions and what will be their punishment? What is the assessment of the Prime Minister and the Minister of the Interior of the police’s actions? Is it true that Gergana Petrova was arrested despite presenting her identity documents?” GERB asked.

In a Facebook post, the party said that the public detention of a journalist for her work is a critical sign for democracy in any legal and democratic state.

“Every action by law enforcement agencies must be legally justified, proportionate and consistent with the rights of citizens and journalists,” GERB said.