Ivanov Denies Implicating Kotsev

Former Deputy Mayor of Varna, Dian Ivanov, categorically denied implicating Mayor Blagoimir Kotsev in a crime before the Commission for Combating Corruption.

In a Facebook post, Ivanov stated that his testimony was given under strong pressure and threats, and emphasized that any interpretation of his words as an accusation is pure manipulation.

"In them I have not implicated the mayor of Varna, Blagoimir Kotsev, in committing a crime"

He specified that he has filed a statement with the prosecutor's office describing the conditions under which he gave his testimony before the anti-corruption commission. According to him, they are not only coercive but also untrue. Ivanov expressed his willingness to repeat his testimony before a judge, in the presence of a lawyer, to clarify the truth in the case in which he is a key witness.

Events surrounding the case

The events surrounding the case against the mayor of Varna are developing dynamically and are accompanied by tension. On September 12, the Sofia City Court remanded Kotsev in custody, rejecting his request to change his pre-trial detention. Judge Ani Zaharieva justified her decision with the existence of reasonable grounds for Kotsev"s involvement in the crime.

Lawyer Ina Lulcheva, Kotsev"s defender, defined the process as political persecution, which began ten months ago with clear political goals. She pointed to the lack of evidence of an organized crime group in the testimony of the witnesses and emphasized that even the appellate court noted the lack of evidence of Kotsev soliciting a bribe to influence officials.

Judicial recusals

However, the case is marked by unprecedented judicial recusals. The initial panel of the appellate court, which was to review the request to change the pre-trial detention, withdrew, arguing with an unprecedented negative campaign in the public space, filled with manipulative and untrue statements, the purpose of which is to downplay the criminal nature of the cases. Judges Alexander Zhelyazkov, Atanaska Kitipova and Desislav Lyubomirov stated that this campaign is directed against everyone involved in the consideration of the case. Days later, Judge Georgi Ushev, part of the second panel appointed to review the pre-trial detention, also withdrew, citing actions taken against him in the past by Kotsev_q_s lawyers, including filing a complaint for disciplinary punishment. The situation is escalating, casting doubt on the objectivity and impartiality of the judicial process.