Two mayors, Dimitar Gavazov and Radoslav Revanski, have been detained for up to 72 hours and charged with influence peddling, Burgas District Prosecutor's Office said. Prosecutors will ask a court to remand both men in custody.
According to the charges, the two mayors agreed with each other and with a third defendant, Hristo Shirokov, the DPS regional leader in Burgas, to commit influence peddling in Bulgaria. Shirokov is under house arrest.
Where it began: Relatives of detained Sungurlare mayor protest outside Burgas regional police directorate
Three people are charged in the case. Prosecutors say the evidence gathered so far shows the deals were made in Sungurlare municipality and the criminal activity continued until 20 October.
Updated (22.10, 11:07): Local media report that the investigated activity ran until 20 October 2026, not just until 20 October with no year given, as first reported. The deals began in early 2024. In the raid in Sungurlare municipality, other town hall staff were also detained. Hristo Shirokov, the DPS regional leader in Burgas, is also charged with taking part in an organised criminal group in the case of water utility ViK-Burgas. The scheme there involved tampered water meters in hotels, mostly in Nesebar municipality. Tourist businesses were asked for between 10,000 and 30,000 leva.