Supporters of Sungurlare mayor Dimitar Gavazov held a silent protest outside the Burgas courthouse. A court was due to decide whether he stays in custody permanently.
Gavazov and Belitsa mayor Radoslav Revanski were detained and charged with conspiracy and influence peddling. Prosecutors want both kept in permanent custody.
Hristo Shirokov, regional leader of the DPS party, is also charged in the case. He is under house arrest in a separate case.
Relatives and fellow party members say the arrests were ordered for political reasons.
As we reported on 22 October, Sungurlare mayor Dimitar Gavazov and Belitsa mayor Radoslav Revanski were charged with influence peddling. They were detained on 20 and 21 October in an operation by the organised crime unit (GDBOP) and the State Agency for National Security (DANS). On Wednesday, dozens of people protested in support of Gavazov outside the regional police directorate (ODMVR) in Burgas.
A witness in the case is the chief expert for "Operational Programmes and Projects" at Sungurlare council. He was due to be questioned yesterday. He says there were no violations in public procurement.