In brief
The Sofia Regional Court remanded Yordan Atanasov for alleged murder of a dog after video evidence surfaced. Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev confirmed the suspect’s detention and transfer to Precinct 4. Public protests erupted amid widespread outrage over the incident.
At 19:20 local time on November 4, the Sofia Regional Court ordered Yordan Atanasov to be remanded in custody after he was charged with killing a Yorkshire Terrier in the city’s Krastova Vada neighbourhood.
The case, brought by the Sofia Regional Prosecution Office, followed video that shows Atanasov kicking the dog in the evening of November 1. The footage has sparked widespread public outrage and protests in the city.
Court Remands Yordan Atanasov
The court’s remand came after the prosecution’s Tuesday filing, which accused Atanasov of causing the dog’s death by force.
Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev confirmed the suspect’s whereabouts on a Facebook post, stating the man “was at the Sofia Directorate of Interior with his lawyer and would be detained and escorted to Precinct 4 Police Department for the necessary procedural actions.”
“The suspect in the dog's killing was at the Sofia Directorate of Interior with his lawyer and would be detained and escorted to Precinct 4 Police Department for the necessary procedural actions.”
Demerdzhiev’s statement emphasized that the interior ministry had taken immediate action following the court order.
Public protests erupted in response to the incident, with demonstrators demanding justice for the dog and critiquing the perceived leniency of the legal response.
The Sofia Regional Court’s decision to remand Atanasov keeps the investigation in custody while further evidence is examined. The case remains under scrutiny as authorities seek to clarify the circumstances surrounding the dog’s death.
