Bulgaria: The Lev Exits Circulation, Enters Collector Circles
As Bulgaria phases out the lev at the end of January, the numismatic market is already responding to the change, though not all coins are attracting attention.
Cross-Border Pursuit: Suspects in North Macedonian Murders Flee to Bulgaria
Business | December 4, 2023, Monday // 17:30
- Tweet
Send to Kindle
Three suspects in the murder of a 14-year-old girl from Skopje and a 74-year-old man from Veles have been detained, the Ministry of Internal Affairs in North Macedonia announced late last night. Today, the Minister of the Interior, Oliver Spasovski, said that two more people are being sought, one of whom is said to have gone first to Belgrade and then to Bulgaria.
The schoolgirl from Skopje was reported missing on November 27 around 8:30 a.m. on her way to school. Late yesterday, authorities announced that the girl's body had been found shot near Skopje.
A 74-year-old man, declared missing on November 24, was found dead near Veles.
The police specified that suspects were arrested for both murders, and one of the suspects fled the country. The media in North Macedonia discovered behind the initials of the main organizer L.P., as indicated by the police, the leader of a small political party in the country.
At a press conference today, Interior Minister Spasovski confirmed that all the suspects are from this party, whose headquarters were searched along with other sites in Skopje and Veles. According to Spasovski, evidence has been collected for 5 persons who participated in the abduction and murder of the girl, 3 of whom have been detained, and the main organizer is outside the country. He went with his lawyer to Belgrade, then to Bulgaria.
The girl's father was also questioned last night, because according to the testimony of the detainees, the main organizer received information from the girl's father when she was leaving her home alone.
According to Spasovski and the prosecutor Goran Bubovski, the motive for the kidnapping was blackmail, but after the quick information about the girl's disappearance, the suspects panicked and shot her.
The connection to the other case, of the 74-year-old man from Velez, is his acquaintance with one of the suspects to whom he owed money. His car was used to kidnap the child and then set on fire. The abduction took place at the entrance to the block of flats, and police have plenty of security camera footage to track what happened.
Mobile phones, computers and cars were seized, many interrogations and searches were carried out.
Related Articles:
Bulgarian Economist: Euro Transition Exceeds Expectations
The shift to the euro in Bulgaria is proceeding more smoothly than many anticipated, according to Petar Ganev, senior economist at the Institute for Market Economics
Ridiculous Scenes as a Citizen Brings Canisters Filled with Coins to a Bank in Bulgaria
In the first days of Bulgaria’s euro introduction, some bank branches faced serious disruptions as citizens rushed to exchange large amounts of levs for euros, particularly coins.
Society | January 12, 2026, Monday // 18:41
Cold Tuesday Gives Way to Rising Temperatures Across Bulgaria
Cold conditions will persist across Bulgaria on Tuesday, with morning temperatures dropping further, while daytime values edge up slightly.
Bulgaria: Banks and Merchants Struggle with Euro Exchange, Warns Consumer Advocate
Twelve days into Bulgaria’s adoption of the euro, the transition is showing signs of strain, particularly in the exchange of levs for euros
Bulgaria: Counterfeit 500-Euro Note Detected at Pernik Casino
A counterfeit 500 Euro (BGN 980) banknote was discovered in Pernik after being used to claim winnings at a local casino.
Crime | January 12, 2026, Monday // 16:03
Bulgaria: Banks and Merchants Struggle with Euro Exchange, Warns Consumer Advocate
Twelve days into Bulgaria’s adoption of the euro, the transition is showing signs of strain, particularly in the exchange of levs for euros
New Flights from Sofia and Varna to Santander, Corfu and Katowice Announced
Wizz Air has announced the opening of three new direct air routes from Bulgaria for the summer season of 2026, strengthening its presence on the local market and expanding travel options from Sofia and Varna
Bulgaria’s Hotels Adapt Smoothly to Euro, Staff Shortages Remain a Challenge
Hotels in Bulgaria are transitioning to the euro without major issues, according to Georgi Duchev, executive director of the Bulgarian Association of Hotel Management Professionals
Bulgaria Proposes Higher Quotas for Non-EU Workers to Meet Labor Demand
Bulgaria is considering legal changes that would allow companies to hire more workers from non-EU countries, responding to growing labor shortages
Rising Costs and Imports Pressure Bulgaria’s Rose Sector
A pilot project is underway on the farm of rose producer Dancho Petkov in Panicherevo, aiming to test new ecological methods for weed control in organic rose cultivation
Bulgaria: Timber Output Hit Historic Low in 2025
Timber production in Bulgaria in 2025 has fallen to record lows, according to the latest figures released by the Executive Forestry Agency (EFA). The Branch Chamber of the Woodworking and Furniture Industry (BKDMP) reports that only 80% of the timber plan
