An unprecedented turn of events shook the judicial system in the case against Varna Mayor Blagomir Kotsev. The former deputy mayor Dian Ivanov suddenly withdrew his initial testimony, stating that it was given under pressure.
Before the Sofia City Prosecutor's Office, Ivanov filed an official statement in which he categorically disputes the credibility of his previous claims. According to lawyer Petromir Kanchev, although the withdrawal has no direct procedural weight, it significantly undermines the presumption of a committed crime.
Kanchev emphasized that such a step was taken due to the lack of reaction from the prosecution regarding the request for additional questioning. At the moment, the body of evidence is reduced solely to the testimony of witness Plamenka Georgieva, which was ironically defined as "EZK" - "one woman said".
Former Sofia City Prosecutor Nikolay Kokinov was extremely categorical about the case. With over 30 years of legal experience, he stated that he has never encountered such a legal construction as an "unknown person with immunity".
Kokinov sharply criticized the attempt to remove the case from the competent Varna District Court and move it to Sofia. In his opinion, this approach creates dangerous prerequisites for future abuses, allowing arbitrary manipulation of judicial jurisdiction.
The expert expressed an extremely sharp opinion regarding the prosecution's attempt to include a leaked recording from the "Afera" website, which the court reasonably rejected. According to Kokinov, this demonstrates a serious "deficit in the evidentiary toolkit".
Both lawyers - Kanchev and Kokinov - united around the unambiguous assessment that without solid physical evidence and with the withdrawal of the key witness, the prosecution will face exceptional difficulties in achieving a conviction.
The upcoming session in the Appellate Court is emerging as a key moment that could put an end to or open new questions around this extremely sensitive judicial case.