After journalist was shoved: head of Bulgaria's NSO protection service resigns

Maj. Gen. Emil Tonev, head of Bulgaria's National Security Service (NSO), which protects senior officials, has tendered his resignation. President Iliana Iotova announced it in an interview with bTV on Friday. Her press office confirmed it to BNT. Iotova had called for his resignation that morning. She said the service had made mistakes and omissions. In her words, the protection of parliament speaker Mihaela Dotsova had "not been as it should". She added that the NSO needs a reform that starts with legislation.

It is not yet clear whether the resignation will be accepted. According to BTA, consultations with the Council of Ministers now follow. No decree had been issued by the evening. Ivaylo Mirchev of Democratic Bulgaria told BTA it was unclear whether Prime Minister Rumen Radev would agree. His party is still demanding Dotsova's resignation too. According to BTA, the GERB-SDS group will not sign a motion to remove her.

The bodyguard, an NSO officer, has been charged with causing bodily harm, the military prosecutor's office said. He is accused of pushing journalist Sonya Koltuklieva on Thursday evening after she opened the door of Dotsova's car; she was injured. Prosecutors have asked for him to be remanded in custody. In military court, the officer asked for a lighter measure, saying he had done his duty as the law requires, bTV reported. The ruling was still pending late in the evening.