Former Deputy Mayor of Varna Dian Ivanov and long-time family lawyer of Varna Mayor Blagomir Kotsev, who was arrested yesterday, has given key testimony in the corruption investigation of the Anti-Corruption Commission. Ivanov, who was pointed out as Kotsev's "right-hand man", surprisingly left the post on May 5, motivating his decision with "health reasons". Then Ivanov and Kotsev publicly exchanged thanks and denied that their paths had parted ways due to work problems.
Ivanov's portfolio included key directorates of Varna Municipality such as “European and National Operational Programs”, “Control and Sanctions”, “Legal and Regulatory Services” and “Municipal Property”, as well as the “Investment Policy” enterprise, recalls “24 Chasa”.
When leaving two months ago, the former deputy mayor Dian Ivanov announced that since the beginning of 2025 alone, 63 projects worth a total of 263 million have been administered in Varna Municipality. lv.
Ivanov's testimony against Kotsev is part of the testimony in the Anti-Corruption Commission's investigation, in which the Sofia City Prosecutor's Office (SGP) is expected to indict the mayor of Varna later today and request his permanent detention.
The case will be heard before the Sofia City Court (SCC) by the end of the week, as the investigation involves a person with immunity. By law, investigations against persons with immunity are conducted by the SGP, and their actions are subject to judicial control by the SCC. It was after a judge from the city court in the capital that yesterday's searches in the Varna municipality and in the home of the detained mayor Kotsev began.
After breaking up with Kotsev, Dian Ivanov testified before the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and explained that at the request of the Varna mayor he participated in the blackmail of the owner of a catering company, Plamena Dimitrova. The former deputy mayor confirmed to investigators that Dimitrova was the subject of unlawful pressure to withdraw her complaint, writes "24 Chasa".
Dian Ivanov also revealed that Kotsev repeatedly explained to him that when awarding public contracts in Varna, a commission should be collected from the winning contractors, which would go towards the maintenance of the PP "We continue the change". This practice became the reason for the deputy mayor's departure, as is clear from his own revelations.