The regional coordinator of GERB-Sofia has filed a report to the Ministry of Interior (MoI) and the Sofia City Prosecutor's Office about suspicions of preparations for vote buying in the Sofia district "Iskar" before the second round of the partial local elections in the region, scheduled for June 22, 2025, announced the GERB party, quoted by "Focus".
The alert reports suspicious and unusual activity related to the offering of money and material benefits: "At the open receptions-meetings held with residents of the region, many citizens signaled to us that at various locations in the “Iskar" region, gatherings of groups of people were observed, especially in the late afternoon and evening hours. People told us that they witnessed citizens being campaigned for a specific candidate by being offered various amounts of money.“
The capital's party organization has received information that individuals known to local residents have repeatedly held conversations with vulnerable groups in society, including people in disadvantaged situations, the elderly and representatives of the Roma community. "The groups in question have been offered financial incentives related to the upcoming vote. Last but not least, the residents of the area informed us that individuals known in the area as representatives of the criminal contingent have been particularly active after the past vote on 15.06.2025“, the signal to the Ministry of Interior and the State Police also says.
The actions indicated in the signal by a specific candidate for mayor of the "Iskar" district fall within the scope of Art. 167 of the Criminal Code as crimes against the political rights of citizens. They undermine trust in the electoral process and create a serious risk to the democratic legal order.
We recall that partial local elections were held in the capital's "Iskar" district, because the powers of Mayor Yasen Rusev were terminated by the Municipal Election Commission. The second round will be between Yasen Rusev from "Continuing the Change - Democratic Bulgaria" and Petko Kraev from GERB-SDF. This is shown by the official results of the Sofia Electoral District Election Commission. In the first round, Yasen Rusev received 2,563 votes, while Kraev received 1,659 votes.