Lawyer Ina Lulcheva, representing the mayor of Varna, Blagomir Kotsev, has requested the termination of the criminal proceedings against him, the revocation of his pre-trial detention measure or its modification, she announced to the media. This comes after the Anti-Corruption Commission presented all the case materials to Kotsev and his defense attorney.
Lawyer Lulcheva explained that the presentation of the materials to the other defendants in the case is forthcoming. After that, the prosecutor will have to decide whether to terminate the case, return it for further investigation, or prepare an indictment.
According to lawyer Lulcheva, the latest accusations are based on witness testimonies collected in July. She emphasized that there is a lack of evidence collected later that is related to the accusations and would justify the detention of the mayor of Varna, as has been claimed so far. The lawyer added that no verification of the testimonies of the witnesses interrogated in July has been carried out.
Ina Lulcheva also pointed out that the accusations of soliciting bribes are from individuals who do not claim to have been the subject of a request from the mayor, but from other individuals who are defendants in the case. Furthermore, Kotsev is accused of forcing an employee in the municipality to perform an official action that she did not want.
The lawyer also commented on the fact that an unidentified Member of Parliament is featured in the case, the only specification for whom is that he is from the 51st National Assembly. This fact was not mentioned by a witness in the case.