The human rights team of Varna Mayor Blagomir Kotsev took decisive actions to cancel his permanent arrest, attacking procedural violations and the investigation's approach.
The court session, which has been ongoing for the fourth hour, focused on the detention measures for Kotsev and the other three defendants in the corruption scheme. The legal team presented three key objections to the indictment.
The first objection concerns the inclusion of an unknown deputy in the organized crime group, which, according to the defense, aims to transfer the case to Sofia. The second challenges the claims of the investigation's urgency, which has actually been ongoing since November of last year.
A dramatic turn occurred when former Deputy Mayor Dian Ivanov publicly stated that his initial testimony was given under pressure from an Anti-Corruption Commission inspector. This fact further weakens the prosecution's position.
Lawyer Ina Lulcheva presented an alternative interpretation of the testimony of the second key witness - businesswoman Plamenka Dimitrova. According to the defense, her claims are motivated by economic interests after losing a public procurement, which was confirmed by the Competition Protection Commission.
Kotsev's defenders emphasized the lack of convincing evidence of his involvement in the charges. They categorically rejected arguments that his high public position could be grounds for detention.
Despite Judge Alexander Zhelyazkov's calls to depoliticize the process, the legal team repeatedly described the case as politically motivated, emphasizing that Kotsev was elected from the political formation "We Continue the Change".
Currently, the lawyers of the other detainees are making statements, after which a position from the prosecution is expected. The final decision will be pronounced by the Sofia Appellate Court.
The court session was followed by members of parliament, relatives of the accused, and diplomatic representatives, which underscores the public interest in the case.