The Sliven Military Court Verdict
Nearly two years after the collision, the Military Court in Sliven has ruled that the NSO driver is innocent. According to reporting by dnes.bg, the court’s decision hinges on the actions of the other driver involved in the crash.
The incident occurred around 17:30 on May 16, 2024. As the NSO vehicle approached the entrance of Aksakovo, an Audi exited a road without priority and failed to stop at a “Stop” sign, leading to an unavoidable collision.
The acquittal comes despite a push from the prosecution. The state’s legal team argued that the senior sergeant driving the NSO car failed to react adequately to the danger, specifically claiming he did not slow down or activate the braking system. The prosecution’s theory was based on the legal qualification of independent contribution, suggesting that while the Audi driver was at fault, the NSO driver’s failure to brake contributed to the fatality.
The court ultimately rejected this theory, finding no guilt on the part of the NSO driver.
Ruse News notes that the specific legal reasoning behind the acquittal will only become clear once the court publishes the formal motives for the sentence.
Contradictions Over Speed and Evidence
One of the most contentious points of the case has been the speed of the NSO vehicle. In the immediate aftermath of the crash, claims circulated that the government car was traveling at speeds between 140 and 150 km/h. Road experts at the time questioned the official version of events, calculating that the vehicle was moving significantly faster than the permitted limit for that section of the road.
However, there is a stark disconnect between these external claims and the judicial record. The court’s final decision did not specify the speed of the NSO car.
The investigation was further complicated by the rapid alteration of the scene. Dnes.bg reports that the Varna municipality repaved the crash site almost immediately after the tragedy, leaving it unclear whether a proper study of the braking path was ever conducted.
The Human Cost of the Aksakovo Collision
The impact of the collision was devastating for the occupants of the Audi. The 63-year-old driver died instantly at the scene. His 58-year-old wife, who was traveling in the back seat, survived but suffered critical injuries.
As detailed by Paragraf.bg, the woman was rushed to the hospital where surgeons were forced to remove her ruptured spleen.
In contrast, the occupants of the NSO vehicle escaped without injury. The passengers included:
Legal Timeline and Next Steps
The road to this verdict was protracted. While the accident occurred in May 2024, Dir.bg reports that the indictment was not filed in court until late 2025. The NSO driver had been charged under Article 343, paragraph 3, in connection with paragraph 4 (old text), which carried a potential prison sentence of five to 15 years.
The acquittal is not the final word on the matter. Because the verdict is not definitive, it can be contested and appealed before the Military Appeal Court.
“The driver did not stop at a ‘Stop’ sign.”
Ministry of Interior in Varna, via Dnes.bg
The case highlights the tension between the legal interpretation of “independent contribution” and the public expectation of accountability when high-ranking officials are involved in fatal accidents. For now, the driver who transported one of Bulgaria’s most prominent political figures remains legally cleared of wrongdoing.