Fake medicine crackdown, purple monuments and a presidential visit

Bulgaria's General Directorate for Combating Organised Crime (GDBOP) has shut down four websites selling counterfeit medicines as part of Operation Pangea XVIII, a coordinated Interpol action spanning 90 countries. Caretaker Interior Minister Emil Dechev confirmed the move, which saw over 5,700 websites, social media pages and bots disabled worldwide.

Globally, the operation led to the seizure of more than 6 million illegal pharmaceutical products valued at $15.5 million. Around 270 people were arrested and 66 criminal groups dismantled.

Among the most serious cases was an illegal drug production facility in Bulgaria. Authorities confiscated millions of incorrectly labelled pills, ampoules and injectable preparations from the clandestine plant. Significant quantities of unlawful pharmaceutical products were also seized in operations across Australia, Ireland and New Zealand.

The official graduation ceremony for Class of 2025 at Shumen University 'Bishop Konstantin Preslavski' will take place on 9 May at 10:00 in Arena Shumen. A total of 1,857 students completed their studies in the past academic year, with around 700 graduates due to take the graduate's oath and formally mark the completion of their higher education.

For the third consecutive year, the Founders of the Bulgarian State memorial complex will be illuminated in purple, the university's colour. The monument will be lit from 6 to 9 May for the graduation, and again from 20 to 23 May to mark the university's patron saint day on 21 May, the Feast of Saints Constantine and Helena.

President Iliyana Yotova will visit Shumen on 11 May, the city's official day. She will take part in the evening programme, including the procession and the opening of the 35th Drumev Theatre Festival, as well as the official ceremony outside Shumen Municipality.