On 9 November 2025, in Sofia, residential district “Razsadnika,” ul. Pchinia 18, a medical doctor (human medicine) named Nenad “Ne” Conevski deliberately ran over an elderly community dog named Maya with his vehicle, a Volkswagen Passat.

According to video evidence and witness testimony, he drove over the dog, stopped, stepped out of the vehicle to check whether the dog was beneath the wheel, returned to the car, and ran her over again. The act was deliberate and not accidental. A passenger inside the vehicle witnessed the entire event.

Maya was a beloved neighbourhood dog, cared for by many residents. She was elderly and slightly hard-of-hearing due to age, but normally responded when people signaled. All neighbours treated her with kindness and awareness. The fact that the perpetrator is a licensed medical doctor, bound by an oath to protect human life, has amplified the public shock and condemnation.

 

The act was intentional, fully recorded on video, and witnessed.

Maya survived the initial impact with multiple severe spinal fractures and was later euthanized due to the extent of her injuries and suffering. The public reaction has been overwhelming. Hundreds of citizens have signed a petition demanding criminal responsibility. Many have also sent formal letters to the Military Medical Academy in Sofia, requesting the revocation of his medical license due to gross ethical misconduct and deliberate cruelty.

After the incident, the perpetrator was briefly questioned by the police and reportedly admitted to committing the act. Despite this confession and the existence of clear video evidence, he was released instead of being detained for investigation of an offence involving extreme cruelty. Shortly thereafter, he left the country and is currently believed to be in the Republic of North Macedonia. This raises serious concerns regarding procedural negligence and the effectiveness of law enforcement in Bulgaria, particularly in cases involving violence against animals and strong public interest.

Suddenly this case is not isolated. Bulgaria has recently experienced a series of similarly severe cases of animal cruelty that reached the media and the prosecution yet resulted in no punishment. This ongoing pattern shows systemic failure in Bulgaria to apply effective measures against cruelty to animals, leaving perpetrators unpunished and encouraging repeated violence.

These facts raise serious concerns about Bulgaria’s compliance with:

  • Article 13 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) — recognition of animals as sentient beings and obligation to ensure their welfare in the formulation and implementation of EU policies.
  • Protocol on the Protection and Welfare of Animals (Treaty of Amsterdam, 1997) — requiring Member States to respect the welfare of animals as sentient beings.
  • European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals (ETS No. 125) — which Bulgaria has ratified and which explicitly prohibits intentional acts of cruelty, unnecessary pain, suffering, or death.
  • Directive 98/58/EC concerning the protection of animals kept for farming purposes, and Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport — both of which establish the principle of avoiding unnecessary suffering as a general EU standard.
  • EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, particularly Article 1 (human dignity) and Article 37 (environmental protection), interpreted in light of the Union’s commitment to safeguard animal welfare as part of sustainable ethical governance. 

 

We respectfully request:

  1. An EU-level assessment of whether Bulgaria is failing to meet its obligations to prevent cruelty to animals and protect sentient beings under EU law.
  2. Monitoring of the criminal proceedings in this specific case, to ensure transparency and prevent suppression, as has repeatedly happened in previous cases.
  3. Evaluation of whether systemic non-enforcement in Bulgaria constitutes non-compliance with EU legislation and whether infringement procedures are warranted.
  4. Guidance on submitting all evidence, including the video recording, witness statements, veterinary documentation, public petitions, and records of correspondence sent to Bulgarian authorities.

Thanks to Milena Milcheva who reported it to us and all the people who’s standing with the dogs in Bulgaria.