A court in Burgas has kept two serving mayors of settlements in Sungurlare municipality in custody. They are charged with conspiring to commit corruption offences, the court's press office said. They are identified only as R.R. and D.G.

Prosecutors say the mayors agreed among themselves and with Kh.Sh. to commit crimes under Article 304b, paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code. The alleged conspiracy ran from an unknown date in early 2024 until 20 October 2026.

The previous development: Mayors of Sungurlare and Belitsa charged with influence peddling

The two are charged under Article 321, paragraph 6 of the Criminal Code, which carries up to six years in prison. Article 93, point 7 of the Code classes it as a serious intentional crime.

The court ruled that the evidence gathered gives reasonable grounds to suspect the accused took part in the offence. The judges said that forming a group to commit corruption offences is very dangerous for society, especially when its members are mayors who hold power.

The court said that if freed, the accused could contact possible accomplices or influence witnesses. It also rejected the lighter option of house arrest, saying that even at home the two could still talk to each other and to witnesses.

The ruling can be appealed or challenged by prosecutors before the Burgas Court of Appeal.