Fourteen individuals have been formally charged for their involvement in the violence that erupted during the December 1 protest in central Sofia, the Sofia District Prosecutor’s Office announced on Tuesday.
Authorities say the charges stem from a series of aggressive acts that severely disrupted public order during what began as a peaceful demonstration in the capital.
The disorder broke out late in the evening when small groups of agitators began throwing stones, pyrotechnics and glass bottles at police officers stationed around the protest perimeter.
Garbage containers were toppled, their contents emptied and used as projectiles against law enforcement and Interior Ministry vehicles. Prosecutors described the confrontations as “brazen and dangerous,” taking place in a densely populated public area and showing “blatant disregard for basic norms of conduct.”
Ten of the fourteen accused remain in custody under 72-hour detention orders, while the remaining four have been placed under alternative restraint measures. All suspects are aged between 18 and 36, and according to authorities, three of them are not registered at residential addresses in Sofia.
The prosecutors confirmed that six of the individuals have previous criminal histories, including convictions related to drug-impaired driving and human trafficking involving migrants.
The Sofia District Prosecutor’s Office is currently supervising sixteen separate pre-trial proceedings related to hooliganism committed during the night of the unrest.
These cases range from minor public disturbances to more severe offences involving assault on a police officer and destruction of public property. Investigators say the breadth of the cases reflects the scale of the coordinated disorder that unfolded during the protest.
In their official statement, prosecutors emphasized that the evidence collected so far includes video material, eyewitness testimonies and police reports, all indicating that the accused actively participated in the violent acts.
Several officers sustained injuries from the thrown objects, though none were reported as life-threatening. Damage was also recorded on police vehicles and protective equipment. Authorities have noted that the investigation remains active and is likely to expand further in the coming days.
New material continues to be submitted by various police departments, including additional camera footage from stationary surveillance systems, private establishments and officers’ body cameras.
Supervising prosecutors have instructed investigators to review the newly acquired footage, identify additional suspects and conduct further interviews with eyewitnesses present during the clashes.
Prosecutors also plan to carry out a more detailed video analysis to map the sequence of events and determine the specific actions of each participant involved in the violence. This process, they noted, is essential for assessing whether prosecutors will request permanent detention for the individuals currently being held.
According to law enforcement officials, the violence on December 1 appeared to be driven by a small but coordinated group of agitators whose actions quickly escalated the situation.
While thousands attended the protest peacefully, police reported that several individuals arrived prepared with pyrotechnics, masks and objects suitable for throwing. Authorities are investigating whether the violent outbursts were orchestrated by provocateurs acting with prior intent to create a confrontation.
The unrest prompted widespread public concern, particularly amid growing scrutiny of how protests in Bulgaria are handled by both citizens and law enforcement. Interior Ministry officials have stressed that police acted proportionately and within legal limits, aiming to protect peaceful demonstrators and prevent the situation from spiraling further.
In the aftermath of the clashes, calls emerged from political representatives urging the government to improve coordination between municipal authorities, police units and protest organizers. Some lawmakers have insisted that more preventive measures should be taken to identify potential agitators before demonstrations escalate.
Prosecutors have reiterated their commitment to pursuing all individuals responsible for the violence. They highlighted that documenting every instance of hooligan behavior is a key priority, particularly given the seriousness of the offences committed in such a crowded urban setting.
As investigators continue to process the mounting evidence, officials expect more charges could follow. The Sofia District Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that once all evidence is compiled and analyzed, a final decision will be made regarding long-term detention requests for those currently in custody.