Regarding: The flawed methods used at the General Assembly of the Bulgarian Athletics Federation (BAF) held on August 1, 2025, and the numerous violations of the law committed by Dobromir Karamarinov, member of the Executive Board, and his associates. 

We, the undersigned athletes, coaches and distinguished figures in Bulgarian athletics, express our deep indignation and categorical disagreement with the manner in which the General Assembly of the Bulgarian Athletics Federation was conducted on August 1, 2025. A general meeting marked by gross procedural violations, lack of transparency, lack of real choice, and replacement of representatives could not be recognized as legitimate by anyone who adheres to honesty and democratic principles in sport. We find it outrageous that no opportunity was provided to elect a new Executive Board that would include Olympic champions in athletics.

The methods used by Dobromir Karamarinov and his associates to conduct the General Assembly of the Bulgarian Athletics Federation on August 1, 2025, not only failed to comply with the basic principles of good and transparent governance, but were also an indicator for deeply rooted malpractices.

The Bulgarian athletics deserves leadership that:

• is elected transparently and fairly;
• respects the voice of clubs, coaches and athletes;
• assumes responsibility for its acts in front of the public and international institutions.

We insist on:

• the decisions of the General Assembly held on August 1, 2025, to be declared invalid;
• a new, lawful, and legitimate General Meeting to be convened;
• all interested parties to be provided with the opportunity to participate in this new General Assembly;
• the competent authorities, including the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Prosecutor’s Office, to carry out an investigation into the procedures;
• the European and world federations to be informed about what has happened in the General Meeting held on August 1, 2025, and about the current concerns of leading figures in the Bulgarian athletics.

We will not remain indifferent, blind, and silent witnesses to the replacement of democratic mechanisms with backroom deals, as well as to the humiliation of our labor and efforts, and to the complete detachment of the leadership from the real problems of sports in Bulgaria. 

The undersigned, declare that we stand behind and sign the above document with dignity and responsibility for the future of Bulgarian athletics.

• Yordanka Blagoeva, European high jump champion and World record holder, Olympic silver and bronze medalist
• Tereza Marinova, World and Olympic triple jump champion
• Sofka Popova, European 50m and 60m indoor champion 
• Hristo Markov, the only Bulgarian athlete-winner of all major triple jump titles – European and Olympic champion, World indoor and outdoor champion, Olympic and European record holder
• Tsvetelina Kirilova, Olympic 400m hurdles participant 
• Militsa Mircheva, the first and only Bulgarian woman-participant in an Olympic marathon, 3-time National record holder
• Emilia Dragieva, World high jump Championships bronze medalist
• Svetla Mitkova, World Shot Put Championships bronze medalist
• Tihomir Ivanov, Olympic high jump 8th place and Universiade gold medalist
• Nikolina Shtereva, Olympics 800m silver medalist, European indoor champion and World Cup gold medalist
• Ivaylo Rusenov, coach of Plamena Mitkova, long jump world champion under 20 and Olympic participant
• Evgeni Ignatov, European Championships middle and long distances silver medalist and National record holder
• Rumen Mehandzhijski, National middle and long distance running champion
• Georgi Ivanov, Olympic weightlifter, multiple National record holder and World junior champion
• Lyubomira Brumbarova, National long jump champion, coach of Iva Deliverska and Silvia Brumbarova, National and Balkan champion, participant in European championships
• Polin Mitova, multiple National pole vault champion, Balkan championships medalist for girls and women
• Mitko Tsenov, European 2000m and 3000m steeplechase champion and national record holder
• Stanimir Nenov, Olympic 3000 m steeplechase semi-finalist and multiple National marathon champion and National record holder
• Nikolay Kinevski, National middle-distance running champion
• Todor Stefanov, marathon champion
• Daniel Dukov, national marathon champion
• Assen Christov, National marathon runner, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Eurohold, long-time Vice president and Member of the Executive Board of the Bulgarian Athletics Federation until 2023