The lawyer for Varna Mayor Blagomir Kotsev gave a briefing with details about his detention.
The arrest is on suspicion of corruption involving a person with immunity. Kotsev has been detained for 24 hours, lawyer Milen Ralchev confirmed to BNT.
"Last night at 10:30 PM, a police detention order was served and he was taken to the district administration. The detention is in the context of a case by the Commission for Combating Corruption. The order apparently did not explain the reasons and grounds for his detention.
He asked "what requires the mayor to be detained in July 2025 in a case initiated in 2024."
He clarified that the authorization for these searches and seizures is dated July 2, 2025, and according to him, nothing required the mayor to be detained 5 days later.
"The order for the detention of the mayor of Varna is devoid of any legal basis and is a form of repression."
According to him, it is unlawful and will be appealed. He stated that he sees a political context for Kotsev's detention, as well as political goals.
"If the complainant knew about these intentions and facts about the public procurement that she had in 2024, then what makes it necessary to carry out these actions now in 2025. It is clear that frank untruths are being told".
Ralchev said that the seizures of the Anti-Corruption Commission will not bring anything to clarify the circumstances.
"Purely political goals are being pursued in my opinion with this arrest. Since there is no legal basis for the detention of one person, which is a last resort, for me this is the context".
Kotsev's lawyer explained that in reality the accused was deprived of his basic rights as early as 3:00 p.m. According to him, the phone of the mayor of Varna was also illegally seized. The actual execution of the arrest warrant was nine hours later.
He was categorical that there was no basis for this police action.
The investigation was by the Anti-Corruption Commission and involved rigged public construction contracts worth 5 million leva. According to sources from the investigation, in addition to Blagomir Kotsev, a member of parliament was also involved in the affair.