"Baba Alino" and the protected witness: how the "Blagomir Kotsev case" and the controversial construction near Varna became intertwined

Varna Mayor Blagomir Kotsev stated that Russian citizen Oleg Nevzorov, linked to the investment in the complex in the "Baba Alino" area, appeared as a primary protected witness in the case against him, after having first been deported and subsequently returned to Bulgaria. Thus, the controversial construction and the "Blagomir Kotsev case" became intertwined in a common plot, raising questions about the way evidence is collected and investigations are conducted.

In an interview with national television, Kotsev commented on the developments regarding illegal construction in the area and its connection to his own prosecution. "Between February and July of last year was the period in which I insisted very strongly that demolition orders be issued for the Baba Alino area. You know how far I got by July. The investor in this complex - Oleg Nevzorov, after my arrest on July 8, 2025, appeared, without me knowing him, as a primary protected witness in my case," stated the Mayor of Varna.

According to him, Nevzorov had been deported from the country just days before his arrest, and after his return to Bulgaria, he was included as a key witness in the case. Kotsev emphasized this circumstance as a serious cause for concern, hinting at possible behind-the-scenes dependencies in the course of the investigation into the "Blagomir Kotsev case".

The Mayor also pointed to the sharp change in the pace of construction following his temporary removal from office. "After I was arrested, construction in Baba Alino intensified to a huge scale - from 15 houses at the beginning of 2025 to 104 houses in 2026. It is clear that there is a huge acceleration here after my removal from Varna Municipality," he said. According to him, this development raises questions about how effective the oversight was in the period after his arrest.

Kotsev announced that at the end of this week, the municipality issued the first 12 orders for the removal of illegal structures in the "Baba Alino" area. In his words, the intention is to issue new orders of a similar volume every following week until all illegal objects are covered. However, he emphasized that this is only the beginning of a long process.

The Mayor warned that between the issuance of the orders and the actual demolition of the buildings lie lengthy court procedures. "The law grants the right to a defense. Even an illegal builder can appeal," he pointed out. According to him, the actual removal of the structures will depend on the outcome of the cases and any expert assessments that the court may appoint. "There will likely be some, so it is difficult to say how long it will take," added Kotsev.

He rejected accusations that the municipality reacted with delay and directed attention to tolerance certificates issued back in 2023, which he says boosted construction activity. The certificates were signed by a district mayor in May, June, and July 2023, while Kotsev himself took office as Mayor of Varna only in November of the same year.

According to him, available photos and documents show that as early as October 2023, there were already houses and other objects in advanced stages of construction on the site. Thus, a picture emerges in which a significant part of the controversial construction predates his term, and the new administration is facing already established facts.

Kotsev acknowledged that it is possible that omissions or delays by various institutions occurred during the process. "There are dozens of institutions here that in one way or another were involved or held responsibility," said the mayor. According to him, Varna Municipality was officially notified of the case only in January 2025 after a joint inspection by the Regional Directorate for National Construction Control (RDNSK), the "Primorski" district, and the municipality.

"In February, I requested that the file be transferred to the main municipality so that I could have personal oversight over the control," Kotsev further stated, adding that he does not rule out the possibility that the procedure was intentionally delayed before the municipality's intervention. Against this background, the dispute surrounding "Baba Alino" and the "Blagomir Kotsev case" remains under special public attention, with the court set to provide answers regarding both the legality of the buildings and the role of the individual participants in the case.