Send to Kindle
A blast in downtown Sofia in February this year, aimed at the anti-government Galeria paper, left the surrounding buildings with broken windows. Photo by BGNES
Bombs have exploded in front of the offices of two Bulgarian opposition parties in Sofia, damaging neighboring buildings.
The first blast went off at 3:58 a.m. in front of the headquarters of the conservative Order, Law and Justice Party, RZS, in central Sofia.
About twenty minutes later another explosion ripped off the air in front of an office of the party of former Prime Minister Ivan Kostov, the die-hard rightist Democrats for Strong Bulgaria.
No casualties were reported.
The blasts come just a day after Bulgaria's centrist and leftist opposition tabled in parliament a no confidence motion against the cabinet of Boyko Borisov, which the two targeted parties are expected to support.
Rumors have emerged, suggesting that the blasts are a PR trick, masterminded by the parties themselves, and drawing parallels to the bomb that exploded in front of the offices of Galeria, an anti-government newspaper, early on February 10 in downtown Sofia.
The two heads of the newspaper are widely believed to have ordered the blast, under the guidance of Aleksei Petrov, a highly controversial businessman, considered to be the prime minister's archenemy, patron of the weekly and closely linked to RZS.
Right before the blast, Galeria had published transcripts of taped phone conversations between senior government officials and Customs Office chief Vanyo Tanov, which prompted Prime Minister Boyko Borisov to seek and win a confidence vote in Parliament on January 20.
The tapes, whose authenticity was not verified, alleged that the government of PM Boyko Borisov is favoring certain companies and individuals with respect to investigations and appointments in the Customs Agency. All tapes featured conversations of Customs Agency head Vanyo Tanov.
Prime Minister Boyko Borisov took office in the summer of 2009, pledging to curb corruption and organized crime after criticism from Brussels.
Just as in February the blasts against the opposition parties precede the European Commission's report on Bulgaria's efforts to fight graft, due to be released this week.
Kēstutis Kupsys, vice president of the Lithuanian Consumers' Union, shared insights from Lithuania’s experience with euro adoption
President Rumen Radev joined business leaders and Czech representatives at a meeting organized by the Bulgarian-Czech Chamber of Commerce
On June 24, Bulgaria marks Enyovden - known in English as Midsummer's Day - a holiday that blends Christian reverence and ancient folk rituals
The search for the elusive black panther spotted in Bulgaria’s Shumen Plateau has entered its fifth day
Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov announced that Bulgaria plans to raise its defense budget to 5% of GDP
As Bulgaria moves steadily toward joining the eurozone on January 1, 2026, following unanimous support from eurozone finance ministers and heads of state in June 2025, waves of disinformation continue to circulate
A female doctor from Burgas has died, two months after being severely beaten by her former partner and colleague during a celebration
Three Ukrainian nationals, aged 22, 24, and 25, have been detained by order of the Sofia City Prosecutor’s Office in connection with the kidnapping of a 17-year-old Ukrainian boy in Sofia
In Thessaloniki, police officers intervened after hearing the cries of an 11-month-old baby left unattended on a balcony
A 20-year-old woman from the village of Kalitinovo, Stara Zagora Province, has been detained by police following a stabbing incident at a restaurant in Sunny Beach.
Tension gripped the Bulgarian city of Varna on Tuesday evening following the death of 36-year-old Yavor Georgiev
A total of 130 people are being removed from three illegal adult care facilities in Varna following an operation carried out Monday night - the third such action in recent weeks
Borderless Bulgaria: How Schengen Benefits Are Transforming Trade and Logistics
Bulgaria's Mortality Rate Remains Highest in Europe
