„When democracy is attacked in one member state, it is weakened throughout Europe.“ This is what the mayor of Varna, Blagomir Kotsev, stated in an address to members of the European Committee of the Regions during the European Week of Cities and Regions in Brussels. If he had not been unjustly held in custody for more than three months, Blagomir Kotsev would have been in Brussels today as a rapporteur at the Committee meeting today.
The letter from the arrest was read by the municipal councilor from Varna Sofia Koleva, after which the entire hall stood up and applauded Blagomir Kotsev's message. For his part, the chairman of the Renew Europe group in the European Committee of the Regions, François Decoster, addressed Sofia Koleva and told her to convey the following to Blagomir Kotsev: “His fight is our fight! We hope he will soon return here among us“.
Here is the full text of Blagomir Kotsev's address:
Statement by Blagomir Kotsev, Mayor of Varna and Rapporteur of the European Committee of the Regions
Dear members of the Committee of the Regions,
Dear colleagues,
Dear citizens of Europe,
Today I am addressing you not from the conference hall, where I had hoped to stand among you, but from a prison cell in my own country – Bulgaria. I speak not only as a democratically elected mayor and a citizen of the European Union, but also as a representative of all who believe in freedom, transparency and the rule of law.
In November 2023, in the local elections, the people of Varna entrusted their votes to our shared vision of reform, openness and modernization. The new administration began to address long-standing problems, eliminate monopolies and restore fairness in public procurement. These efforts quickly provoked resistance from those who had settled comfortably in the shadow of corruption.
In July 2024, a politically motivated investigation was launched against this same administration, based on allegations by individuals connected to the previous administration and Bulgaria’s ruling elite. A theatrical arrest by dozens of government agents followed, an act intended to intimidate not only me, an opposition mayor, but the entire movement for change in Bulgaria.
False accusations of corruption were then used to justify the detention without credible evidence. Witnesses later claimed that their statements were extracted under duress or in exchange for personal gain. Yet Bulgarian courts continue to ignore the facts and the presumption of innocence.
But this case is not just about one man. It is about the state of democracy and justice in Bulgaria - a member of the European Union, where political repression risks once again becoming a tool of governance. Those who oppose deep-rooted power networks, oligarchic interests and their political patrons are subjected to pressure, intimidation or imprisonment.
Offers of freedom in exchange for loyalty to discredited figures – including individuals sanctioned under the “Magnitsky“ Act for corruption and abuse of power – are symptomatic of a deeper crisis. The choice facing reformers in Bulgaria today is between silence and integrity. We have chosen integrity and we accept the consequences of this choice.
Despite these circumstances, the leadership of the European Committee of the Regions has shown faith in democratic institutions by entrusting the Bulgarian delegation with the role of rapporteur on the EU's strategic approach to the Black Sea region. This act of solidarity sends a strong message: Europe sees beyond the walls of repression and truth and integrity cannot be silenced.
Our faith in justice and in all who serve the law with integrity remains. Truth will prevail and European principles of justice and human rights will triumph over manipulation and fear. When that day comes, the work of building a better Varna and a fairer Bulgaria will continue with renewed strength and collective will.
I reaffirm my commitment to European values and to the cause of a free and democratic Bulgaria from my cell. Even in detention, our efforts continue to represent the citizens of Varna and contribute to Europe's shared vision of peace, prosperity and cooperation in the Black Sea region.
To my colleagues and all European citizens listening today: Please do not look away. What is happening in Bulgaria affects us all. When democracy is attacked in one member state, it is weakened throughout Europe.
We believe in justice. We believe in truth. And we believe that together Europe will not allow political imprisonment to return to its soil.
Thank you for standing with the people of Varna. Thank you for standing for democracy.
Blagomir Kotsev
Mayor of Varna, Bulgaria
Rapporteur of the European Committee of the Regions