"Blago asks about the children. How are they, are they behaving? Last night in court, she shed tears, asking for a softer measure so that she could be at home with them".
This was written on Facebook by the wife of the arrested mayor of Varna, Blagomir Kotsev. From her post it became clear that on Monday, July 14, at 6:30 p.m., a protest in his support will take place again in front of the Varna Municipality.
"Because his place is here, among us. In Varna, to which he gave his heart and energy," adds the mother of his children.
„The „Renew Europe” Group in the European Parliament strongly condemns the escalating attack on democratic institutions and the rule of law in Bulgaria, an example of which is the politically motivated arrest of Varna Mayor Blagomir Kotsev on July 8, 2025”.
This is stated in the position of the „Renew Europe” group, part of which are also the deputies from the PP-DB, NOVA reported.
„This arrest, carried out under dubious circumstances just a few hours before the crucial vote on the municipal budget, represents a clear case of political persecution and a dangerous abuse of state power against the opposition”, the position also says.
„The ongoing attacks on democratic standards and the clear use of judicial institutions for persecution of political opponents in Bulgaria are deeply worrying. This is a direct attack on European values and we call on the Bulgarian authorities to immediately release Mayor Kotsev and put an end to this political repression. Europe cannot remain silent when the rule of law is under threat in our Union", said Valerie Heyer, President of Renew Europe.
Renew Europe MEPs want the issue of the rule of law and corruption in Bulgaria to be raised at the highest level.
“I call on the EU institutions to urgently condemn this arrest. The worrying situation regarding the rule of law in Bulgaria must be discussed at the highest institutional level. We must defend our democratic principles consistently and firmly wherever they are under attack", said Valerie Heyer.
“Mayor Kotsev's arrest is part of a broader pattern of state capture in Bulgaria, where the Prosecutor General's Office and the Anti-Corruption Commission are increasingly becoming instruments of political repression rather than impartial guardians of justice. The deliberate timing of the arrest, which coincides with the celebration of Bulgaria's accession to the eurozone, demonstrates a cynical strategy to divert attention and hide the democratic backsliding behind positive headlines”, the position further states.””Renew Europe” recalls the warnings in the 2025 Rule of Law Report about Bulgaria's continued failure to guarantee the independence of the judiciary and to tackle corruption at the highest levels of power. The events in Varna are a stark illustration of these unresolved structural problems and confirm the urgent need for stronger EU mechanisms to guarantee democratic standards. “Renew Europe” remains in full solidarity with the Bulgarian opposition and all citizens fighting for democracy. “Renew Europe” calls on the European Parliament and all EU institutions to condemn this brutal political persecution and demand the immediate release of Mayor Kotsev. The people of Bulgaria and all European citizens deserve better”, the position states.