Journalist pushed: Military appeals court orders NSO officer to sign pledge
The court found the bodyguard used force that injured the journalist. A new witness claims to have overheard a phone call about payment, which the journalist flatly denies.
Graphic: TERRA WORLD NEWS (own graphic based on the sources listed)
The Military Court of Appeal in Sofia overturned the first-instance ruling and ordered the National Protection Service (NSO) officer to sign a pledge not to leave his place of residence without permission. He is accused over an incident involving a journalist on Oct. 22. The three-judge panel concluded that the bodyguard used force that caused the woman's shoulder injury. The court rejected the military prosecutors' request for pretrial detention, and its ruling is final.
A week earlier, the Sofia Military Court released the man without any measure, finding he had been carrying out his official duties. Prosecutor Natalia Stancheva disputed that reasoning, saying the evidence gathered supported suspicion of involvement. Defense lawyer Tervel Georgiev maintains that his client merely removed the journalist's hand from the car, did not push her and did not cause the injury.
According to the defense, a new witness says he overheard the journalist on the phone shortly before the incident and heard the phrase "Act, you will be paid." The journalist denied having any such conversation. "I am a journalist with a decent income," she said, adding that she had no reason to put herself in danger.