Police under investigation after Bulgarian in Paphos killed and emergency calls ignored

Authorities are pursuing disciplinary action against four police officers following the brutal murder of 41-year-old Petya Krateva from Bulgaria, a resident of Paphos, allegedly by her former husband.

The case has shocked the Cypriot community, fueled by allegations of domestic violence from the victim, the suspect's outstanding warrant, and ignored emergency calls from neighbors.

On Friday, June 14, at approximately 10:15 a.m., police responded to reports of injured individuals at an apartment complex in Paphos. Officers discovered 41-year-old Krateva and 48-year-old resident who had been in the same apartment complex with Krateva since their separation in 2019.

Krateva was transported to Paphos General Hospital, where she was pronounced dead from stab wounds to her abdomen and arms. The suspect was also hospitalized with injuries and later transferred to a mental health facility, from which he was discharged on June 28. He was subsequently remanded for six days and faces trial in the Criminal Court.

The suspect contends that Krateva visited him on the morning of the attack to discuss their issues and demanded money to withdraw a recent police complaint against him. He claimed that Krateva attacked him first, leading to a confrontation after which he lost consciousness.

The case has drawn public outrage over missed emergency calls. A neighbor’s repeated attempts to contact the police went unanswered, despite urgent pleas about noises coming from the apartment. The calls, as reported by Channel Alpha, were directed unsuccessfully to various departments.

Justice Minister Marios Harcziotis assured that any police negligence will be addressed if proven. The victim had previously reported the suspect three times, with the latest complaint on June 11, just days before her murder.

Police spokesman Christos Andreou stated that previous complaints included a 2019 report withdrawn in 2020, a March 2024 report where the victim chose not to pursue charges, and the final June complaint.

[Information sourced from 24 News]