A 34-year-old taxi driver died Saturday night after a beating in the capital’s Rassadnika neighborhood, and his colleagues later blocked the capital’s boulevards demanding an investigation into the murder.
On Sunday night, traffic was stopped on Todor Alexandrov Blvd. and Orlov Most in Sofia as a sign of solidarity for the murdered man. Protests continued and traffic was stopped on Konstantin Velichkov Blvd on Sunday evening. People only lost public transport vehicles, bTV reported. The protests have not subsided despite the man’s arrest being accused.
Brawl after crossing the street
It all happened after crossing the street in the Rassadnika district of the capital. A 23-year-old man was arrested for the tragedy, then reported.
The reason for the fight is the road obstruction. According to Nova TV, the taxi driver hit a car carrying a boy and a girl.
Petya Ilieva, quoted by BGNES, witnessed the conflict. “I saw the two cars crash into each other. A young man jumped out of the car and started pushing the taxi driver who got out of the car. The most likely reason for the attack is that they crashed into a one-way street “, says Petya Ilieva.
The taxi driver’s brother also arrives on site. “My brother called and all I heard was ‘Brother, they’re beating me.’ He couldn’t talk on the phone. I ran over here to see what was going on. I saw him in the car all yellow. from him, my brother fainted and swallowed his tongue. With what they were, how they were – I can’t tell you. “
After a fight, the 34-year-old taxi driver fainted and fell to the ground. And the rescue on the spot only confirmed the death. The autopsy will show if the man died from the beating, when he fell to the ground or suffered a heart attack.
The accident occurred a few meters from the Santa Sofia hospital. “They couldn’t take apart a piece of equipment to help him. After all, this is a hospital. Yes, it’s a maternity hospital. But it’s a hospital and they’re doctors. How can they let a child go, he left three children,” said Vesela, cousin of the deceased.
The attacker was held in the Ministry of the Interior hospital with bruises. He has a history of driving under the influence and drugs. According to unofficial information, investigators are also working on a second version: the scandal involved a friend of the taxi driver, with whom they rushed to beat the 23-year-old boy.
However, the relatives of the dead are demanding justice. “I want this man to be given life. If he goes out, we will make his life miserable for the whole family here,” shared the brother of the deceased.
After the tragedy, in protest, the taxi driver’s relatives went to the local police station, then blocked Todor Aleksandrov Blvd., as well as the Orlov Bridge. Taxis have also joined the blockade.
Petar Vladimirov, vice president of the National Taxi Trade Union, told BNR that they want Interior Ministry representatives to explain to them how the investigation into the murder is going.
“I doubt the police will try to take action. At the moment they are well-intentioned. We don’t bother them either, apart from blocking traffic, but in the end we are doing it to protect our lives, because we cannot be killed in this brutal way on the street. We are also people. We went out to feed our families, “Petar Vladimirov pointed out earlier.
The prosecution brought a defendant
The Sofia City Prosecutor’s Office (SGP) accused the 23-year-old man of beating, after which a taxi driver died Saturday night in the capital’s “Razsadnika” neighborhood, the state prosecutor’s press center announced.
The preliminary investigation was initiated on 8 October in urgent conditions and takes place at the Third Regional Office of the Metropolitan Directorate of Internal Affairs (SDVR), under the direction and supervision of the PSC. The collected material was reported to the Prosecutor’s Office.
An inspection was carried out at the site of the accident, a medical examiner was commissioned to clarify the cause of the death of the deceased; the interrogation of witnesses continued into the night. A car was also searched at night and the protocol was presented to the court with a request for approval from the PSC.
The prosecutor felt that the evidence gathered was sufficient to bring the 23-year-old man to criminal responsibility. The defendant was held for 72 hours. A decision on his pre-trial detention is awaited.
Ivan Geshev: The prosecutor’s office cannot replace the state, but someone must always do something
Surprisingly, the case turned out to be an occasion for the public appearance of Chief Prosecutor Ivan Geshev. He visited the “Faculty” neighborhood, where the citizens protesting against the murder of the taxi driver had gathered.
“Some politicians should have been here, because what I see as a crime boom is the result of the actions of some who call themselves politicians. This is not the job of the prosecutor, but unfortunately the prosecution cannot replace the state, but still someone has to do something” Geshev said.
The official deputy prime minister will discuss measures to improve safety with the industry
At the initiative of the interim Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Hristo Alexiev, a meeting with representatives of the taxi industry will be held in the coming days, the ministry’s press center announced on the occasion of the tragedy.
Specific measures to improve the safety and security of taxi drivers will be discussed during the talks. The meeting will also be attended by representatives of the professional management of the Ministry of the Interior.
“I categorically condemn any violence. Every citizen must have the necessary peace and security in the exercise of his official functions. For this it is necessary that the state, together with industry, develop measures to ensure the safety of all citizens, including – and taxi drivers, “says Hristo Alexiev.
