The prosecutor's office has filed a request for permanent arrest for the mayor of Varna, Blagomir Kotsev, the municipal councilors from "We Continue the Change" Yordan Kateliyev and Nikolay Stefanov, as well as businessman Ivaylo Marinov.
They are accused of participating in an organized criminal group for crimes in office, accepting bribes and money laundering, which operated from July to November 2024, the Bulgarian National Radio reported.
Kotsev, Stefanov and Kateliyev are also accused of having requested in August 2024 an amount equal to 15% of just over one and a half million leva, representing the value of a public procurement contract for the preparation and delivery of food for a Home for Adults in Varna.
The Sofia City Court is about to schedule a hearing on the prosecutor's request.