Protest Planned as Burgazliev Appeals Detention in Sunny Beach ATV Tragedy

PLOVDIV, Bulgaria – A protest is scheduled to take place in front of the Courthouse in Plovdiv, demanding that Nikola Burgazliev, the 19-year-old accused in the August 2025 Sunny Beach ATV accident, remain in custody. The protest is organized in response to the Burgazliev family’s attempts to secure his release under house arrest.

On August 14, 2025, Burgazliev lost control of an ATV and struck five pedestrians on a sidewalk in Sunny Beach. The incident resulted in the death of 35-year-old Hristina Zdravkova from Plovdiv and severe injuries to her four-year-old son, Martin .

Details of the Accident and Legal Proceedings

According to reports, Burgazliev was attempting to avoid an oncoming car when he diverted the ATV onto the sidewalk, colliding with the pedestrians. Zdravkova died after a month in a coma, and her son Martin sustained critical injuries. He currently requires ongoing speech therapy and rehabilitation, with doctors reporting he has a 100% TEOK (Medical Assessment Committee) designation for one year .

The Burgas District Court previously denied a request to release Burgazliev from custody last week. The Court of Appeal is now expected to rule on his appeal. Prosecutors completed pre-trial proceedings, and the case is awaiting a trial date .

Drug Use and Concerns Over Leniency

Following the accident, tests revealed traces of marijuana in Burgazliev’s blood . The organizers of the protest expressed concerns about potential leniency in the case, citing the parents of the accused being police officers. “Once again, the Burgazlievi family is trying to get their son – a murderer – under house arrest. Let’s produce joint efforts not to allow such an injustice,” reads a statement from the protest organizers on social media.

The defense has been utilizing legal mechanisms to delay the proceedings, requesting a change in the detention measure and arguing that Burgazliev needs to be released to complete his secondary education .