In a tense judicial moment, the Appellate Court in Sofia will hold a hearing on the case against Varna Mayor Blagimir Kotsev and his accomplices. The panel of three magistrates - Atanaska Kitipova, Alexander Zhelyazkov, and Desislav Lyubomirov, will make a key decision regarding the detention of the accused.
Last week, the Sofia City Court left Kotsev in permanent arrest, but his defense categorically stated that they will appeal this decision. Lawyer Nikolay Vladimirov described the pre-trial proceedings as a process with a "demonstrative deficit of evidence".
A dramatic turn occurred when Deputy Mayor Dian Ivanov publicly retracted his initial testimony. In the show "Good Morning, Bulgaria" he stated that his witness claims were false and obtained under pressure from Anti-Corruption Commission employees.
The legal defense emphasized several significant procedural irregularities. For example, Plamenska Dimitrova was questioned back in November of last year, but the investigation practically stalled for nearly 10 months. Dian Ivanov was only questioned on July 8, the day of the arrest.
Vladimirov critically noted that Plamenska Dimitrova's testimony is chaotic, devoid of specifics, and filled with contradictory implications. According to the defense, they are more personal assumptions than viable evidence.
The charges include serious crimes - participation in an organized criminal group, corruption schemes, official misconduct, and money laundering. The investigation covers Mayor Blagimir Kotsev, municipal councilors Yordan Kateliev and Nikolay Stefanov, as well as businessman Ivaylo Marinov.
The case is being heard in Sofia due to the additional circumstance of potential involvement of an unidentified member of parliament. Against the backdrop of the expanding scandal, a second unconfirmed audio recording in the case became known yesterday, whose source remains unclear.
The upcoming court hearing will be of exceptional importance for clarifying the circumstances and potentially reviewing the detention measure for the arrested individuals.