Balgarianovinite.com The brutal murder of 37-year-old Georgi Kuzev in Plovdiv has triggered a political dispute over responsibility for the radicalization of young people, while the government is considering new measures to prevent juvenile crime and antisocial behaviour.
On August 4, a group of teenagers who described themselves as “paedophile hunters” lured Kuzev through social media to a Plovdiv park, where they allegedly beat him for more than an hour and filmed the attack. He later died in hospital from his injuries. Five of the minors involved, three boys and two girls aged 14 to 17, have been charged with murder. It also emerged that one of the attackers had previously been involved in an assault on two Nepalese nationals.
Prime Minister Rumen Radev said there was “no place for fascist atrocities” in Bulgaria and criticized politicians and influencers for allegedly seeking political gains from the killing. He accused the opposition of contributing to the environment that had produced the perpetrators, citing its opposition to the introduction of a Virtues and Religions subject in schools and its removal of monuments associated with the anti-fascist struggle.
GERB rejected the Prime Minister’s comments, saying it was irresponsible to turn a brutal murder into another political dividing line. The party said violence had no political affiliation and called on Radev, as Prime Minister, to focus on ensuring law and order and functioning institutions. GERB added that it would support reasonable legislative measures aimed at protecting people and children.
Continue the Change leader Assen Vassilev challenged Radev over whether the State Agency for National Security (SANS) had known about neo-Nazi networks in Bulgaria and, if so, what action it had taken. Vassilev also accused the government of shifting blame onto the opposition instead of addressing the alleged networks and their links to Russian propaganda.
Democratic Bulgaria likewise criticized Radev for calling for unity against radicalization while portraying his political opponents as effectively responsible for the murder. The coalition agreed that children should not be raised by social media algorithms and that society should stand behind the victim, the law and morality, but said these principles were undermined by the Prime Minister’s political accusations. DB called for a comprehensive prevention plan and concrete action against online radicalization, while arguing that the model of “paedophile hunters” had links to neo-Nazi practices originating in Russia.
Against this backdrop, Labour and Social Policy Minister Natalia Efremova said the government was considering restrictions on children’s use of social media as part of a broader package to combat juvenile crime and antisocial behavior. The government has examined similar measures introduced in other countries but believes that a ban alone would not be sufficient. Working groups are preparing proposals, while the National Programme for the Prevention of Violence is also due to be expanded for 2027–2030, with greater emphasis on preventing both violence committed by children and violence against them. Efremova said authorities were already working with the families of the minors involved, including through social services and psychological counselling. She also urged parents to monitor the applications their children use and limit their time on online platforms.
Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov seized on Radev’s reference to the removal of anti-fascist monuments, asking when the dismantled Monument to the Soviet Army would be restored. Thus, the murder has become the focus of a wider political confrontation over youth radicalization, social media, institutional responsibility and competing interpretations of Bulgaria’s political past.
Meanwhile, the Plovdiv District Court has released the two young men, aged 17 and 18, who were charged with causing bodily harm to two Nepalese nationals on the night of July 24 to 25 in the city. The 17-year-old was placed under the supervision of a police counselling centre inspector as a precautionary measure, while the 18-year-old was released on a bail of EUR 700. The hearing was held behind closed doors because one of the defendants is a minor. The investigation into the recent murder of 37-year-old Georgi Kuzev in Plovdiv established a connection between the two youths and the group of teenagers, who severely beat Kuzev up and filmed the entire assault. The assault on the Nepalese nationals was also captured on video. One of the two youths arrested for attacking the two Nepalese nationals in Plovdiv was present at the murder of Georgi Kuzev on August 4, Deputy Regional Prosecutors Plamen Pantov and Neno Dimov told a news briefing on Wednesday. Political Reactions, Proposed Measures Follow Brutal Plovdiv Murder 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-08-12 19:52:06 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law