Varna Mayor Blagomir Kotsev in Court, Seeks Change to Restrictive Measures

Varna Mayor Blagomir Kotsev was escorted into the Sofia Palace of Justice, where the Sofia City Court will review a request to change his detention measure. Accused and detained in a corruption investigation, Kotsev made a brief statement to journalists upon his arrival.

"Thank you all for the support", he said as he made his way to the courtroom. Asked by a BTA correspondent if he hoped for a change in his measure, he answered affirmatively, expressing an expectation of release.

The case drew significant interest

The case, which began with the court moving forward, drew significant interest. A number of political figures and supporters were present in the courtroom. Among them were members of parliament from "We Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria" Nikolay Denkov, Lena Borislavova, and Stoyu Stoev, as well as other party members and citizens. Their presence underscores the political dimension of the case and the public attention it has attracted.

The case dates back to July 18, when the Sofia Appellate Court remanded Kotsev in custody.

At the time, the court also ordered two municipal councilors, Yordan Kateliev and Nikolay Stefanov, to remain in custody after they were detained along with the mayor. The only one released on bail was businessman Ivaylo Marinov. The court justified this decision by the lack of sufficient evidence to connect him with the other three detainees.

The case of the Varna mayor continues to be a focus of public attention, with the current judicial process at the Sofia City Court being the next key step in the development of the investigation. The court's decision is awaited with great interest.