The defense of Varna Mayor Blagomir Kotsev will file an appeal against his detention tomorrow, NOVA reported. The detention measures of the other three accused with him will also be attacked before the Sofia Court of Appeal. And there will be a new protest in front of the Varna Municipality tomorrow evening demanding the mayor's release.
According to the defense of the Varna mayor, the indictment has been cracked. Nikolay Vladimirov, one of Kotsev's lawyers, announced that businesswoman Plamenka Dimitrova reported to the Anti-Corruption Commission after the Commission for Protection of Competition confirmed the lost public procurement for 1.5 million leva.
„Respectively, she agreed to give this percentage, which is why she participated in the procurement itself. That is, both the one demanding the bribe and she had an interest in completing this procurement by winning her company. This raises the question of why she did not win this procurement”, commented lawyer Vladimirov.
The mayor of Varna did not know the fourth person accused with him, claims his lawyer. In addition to the two municipal councilors, businessman Ivaylo Marinov is also charged - one of the two partners in the company that won the public procurement in question. There are no charges against the second partner.
„I know Mr. Dermendzhiev, he is a relatively well-known figure from Varna, in business circles, but I do not know the person with whom he should be an accomplice”, said lawyer Vladimirov.
When asked for comment in connection with her testimony, which also implicated the name of Asen Vassilev as a participant in the possible scheme, Plamenka Dimitrova was laconic. „I will not comment on this issue for now, you will find out these specifics from the investigation”, said Dimitrova.
💡The arrest of the mayor of Varna continues to provoke political reactions.
„The only big question mark is why this day was chosen. And during the press conference we held about the eurozone, when all of Europe was congratulating us. Someone put "a spoonful of tar in a vat of honey," Boyko Borisov said.
The "Renew Europe" group in the European Parliament, which also includes the PP, condemned Kotsev's detention.
"Renew Europe" declares full solidarity with the Bulgarian opposition and all citizens who fight for democratic integrity. The group calls on the European Parliament and all EU institutions to condemn this gross case of political persecution and to demand the immediate release of Mayor Blagomir Kotsev," the position states.