"When democracy is attacked in one member state, it is weakened in the whole of Europe," stated categorically the mayor of Varna, Blagomir Kotsev, in a letter to the members of the European Committee of the Regions in Brussels. This happened during the European Week of Cities and Regions, according to information from the press center of the political party "We Continue the Change". The participants in the event were sympathetic to an unusual circumstance – the absence of the mayor, who should have been the rapporteur at the committee meeting.
From "We Continue the Change" they emphasized that if Kotsev had not been detained in custody for over three months, he would have participated in the event. The atmosphere in the hall was filled with tension and anticipation, while Sofia Koleva, a municipal councilor from Varna, read the letter of the detained mayor. With every word that was read, the feeling of injustice became stronger. After the completion of the letter, the entire hall stood up in support, supporting the message of Blagomir Kotsev with thunderous applause.
François Decoster, chairman of the "Renew Europe" group in the European Committee of the Regions, turned to Sofia Koleva, assigning her to convey to Blagomir Kotsev the assurance that his struggle is also their struggle, expressing hope for his soon return.
"Today I am addressing you not from the conference hall, where I hoped to stand among you, but from a prison cell in my own country – Bulgaria," says Kotsev's letter. "I speak not only as a democratically elected mayor and citizen of the European Union, but also as a representative of all who believe in freedom, transparency and the rule of law."
The letter describes that in November's local elections, the residents of Varna gave their vote for the vision of reforms, openness and modernization. The new administration has undertaken the removal of long-standing problems, the removal of monopolies and the restoration of justice in public procurement. These efforts, the mayor emphasizes, quickly met resistance from people who had been comfortably placed in the shadow of corruption.
This is followed by a politically motivated investigation, launched in July 2024, targeting the same administration, which is based on the claims of individuals associated with the previous administration and the ruling elite. The subsequent theatrical arrest, carried out by dozens of government agents, is also described in the announcement. This act aimed to intimidate not only the mayor from the opposition, but also the entire movement for change in Bulgaria.
The mayor points out that false accusations of corruption were used as a justification for his detention without convincing evidence. Witnesses later confirmed that their testimonies were extracted under pressure or in exchange for personal benefits. Bulgarian courts continue to ignore the facts and the presumption of innocence.
In Kotsev's words, this case goes beyond the framework of one person. It concerns the state of democracy and justice in Bulgaria – a member state of the European Union. According to him, political repressions are once again at risk of becoming an instrument of governance. Individuals who oppose the deep power networks, oligarchic interests and their political patrons are subjected to pressure, intimidation or deprivation of liberty. At the end of the letter, Kotsev emphasizes that what is happening in Bulgaria affects everyone, and expresses gratitude to the European Committee of the Regions for their support and advocacy for democracy.
The entire letter has been published and can be read.
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On October 10, the Sofia City Court ruled to keep the mayor of Varna in custody. The decision is subject to appeal. Kotsev is accused of an investigation for corruption and participation in an organized criminal group. The chairman of the judicial panel in his reasoning emphasizes that Kotsev remains the mayor of Varna and as such has a large resource and has the opportunity to influence the witnesses who have not yet been questioned.
Коментари (90)
5FF
14.10.2025, 21:27браво, коцев 🤔
нещо_ах
14.10.2025, 21:28Ах, най-после нещо здраво
DOKTORA
14.10.2025, 21:29дагихванерусияснещастиетоси
JIVKO
14.10.2025, 21:31Ами нне е време да се изправят тези типове от д!!
бори_за
14.10.2025, 21:28Варна се бори за свобода
МАЙСТОРА
14.10.2025, 21:30браво, кмет коцев
zlata_koti1990
14.10.2025, 21:32Смел кмет, не го оставям
a. Георгиев
14.10.2025, 21:32Ако Варна се бори за свобода, то цялата страна ще
Prosto_Chovek
14.10.2025, 21:32Hа, хей
kombinator
14.10.2025, 21:43Благомир Коцев - истински българин
Nqkoi
14.10.2025, 21:44Здравей, ако не е онзи, което ги има 😜
[email protected]
14.10.2025, 21:47ето човек с европейско сърце и българска ду6!!
PETROV
14.10.2025, 21:49азтакамисля,чикоцевправиправилнотодействие
FC2
14.10.2025, 21:52hehe, коцев се бие за свободата
as
14.10.2025, 21:52Ха-ха, нямам какво да кажа!
FAN_45
14.10.2025, 21:53Хей, не се шегувахме!
Prosto_Chovek
14.10.2025, 22:11Благомир Коцев - герой!
krisko_bg
14.10.2025, 22:14Аз също
r. Петров
14.10.2025, 22:20Да си радваме на такива хора 😁
b. костов
14.10.2025, 23:11благомир коцев - героят на варна 😁
realist2021
14.10.2025, 23:18Кмете
pr@v_eu
14.10.2025, 23:28Здравий, Европа
Майстора1975
14.10.2025, 23:30ах, заек, това е истински българин
б_този_шокувам
14.10.2025, 23:31ei, не се шокувам, този коцев е истински б
[email protected]
14.10.2025, 23:50кметеКоцев
viki_qna1990
14.10.2025, 23:52Хей, Коцеве, ти си героят на Варна
NINJA
14.10.2025, 23:55hahaha, ти си гироят на варна
h. Иванов
14.10.2025, 23:57Ето се излиза 🇧🇬
komentar_bg
14.10.2025, 23:59Благомир Коцев - истински българин
ludata1999
15.10.2025, 00:02Вау, най-накрая нещо здраво в тази стр
xD
14.10.2025, 23:57коцев
krisko_bg1975
15.10.2025, 00:00Ах, човекът се бори за демокрациа
TOP4O
15.10.2025, 00:01Коцев се бори за нашия дом
Kirov89
15.10.2025, 00:10коцев
anoniemen
15.10.2025, 00:11Благомир Коцев е истински българин
blagoi2010
15.10.2025, 01:19да се хвалим с този кмет
аз
15.10.2025, 01:20Аз така мисля
ABDC
15.10.2025, 01:57европеизиран варна
да
15.10.2025, 01:58Да, Варна finally gets some love
8FEEF
15.10.2025, 02:00Хайде, не се бъркай, варненец
d. миланов
15.10.2025, 02:02Кмете Коцев
PROSTO_CHOVEK
15.10.2025, 02:05Ах, ти си героят на Варна
NQKOI
15.10.2025, 02:08Браво, Коцев
k. Георгиев
15.10.2025, 02:10Слава демокрацията
k. Георгиев
15.10.2025, 02:18Благомир Коцев - героат на Варна
59C2
15.10.2025, 02:19Слава на Варна
чува_да_се
15.10.2025, 02:23да се чува
5CCE
15.10.2025, 02:30варна за варното 😁
DCBE6
15.10.2025, 02:33haha, варна за варното, но и за европейската демокра!
DOKTORA
15.10.2025, 02:34Хей,ннещосеслучвавъвВарна
blagoi
15.10.2025, 02:35ах, варна за варно, но ес за свободата
pr@v_eu1984
15.10.2025, 02:39Аз съм с Варна
[email protected]
15.10.2025, 02:42Хей, нне може да варваме, че на6ата демок
благомир_😏
15.10.2025, 02:39Благомир 😏
n. Стоянов
15.10.2025, 02:52Хий, най-сетне накакъв се бави за нашата!!
ах
15.10.2025, 02:53Ах, така ли? Трабва да чака някога човек!
NoComment
15.10.2025, 02:54haha, още веднъж европейските институции са в ст
D. Тодоров
15.10.2025, 02:56Ах, най-после някой разбира истинското значение на дем
peshaka2023
15.10.2025, 02:56Ама това не е чудо
GUEST123
15.10.2025, 03:02слава варна!
ГРАЖДАНИН_Х
15.10.2025, 03:08Ну че сега вече? Арестуват кмета на Варна
as2005
15.10.2025, 03:49АмисегатояКоцевсеборизасвободата
BG_GOST
15.10.2025, 05:10Браво Коцев
BABAGANKA
15.10.2025, 05:13БлагомирКоцев-героатнаВарна!
KOMENTAR_BG
15.10.2025, 05:14евроеците са нашият зачет
PESHOFROMSOFIA
15.10.2025, 05:21Варна за Варна!
ivanka1974
15.10.2025, 05:47да си борим за демокрацията 👎
KRISKO_BG
15.10.2025, 06:08Ах,най-голqмото
fanata1996
15.10.2025, 07:32Благомир Коцев - героqт на Варна!!
shefa
15.10.2025, 07:33браво, коцев
браво_коцив
15.10.2025, 11:08Браво, Коцив
as
15.10.2025, 11:09Нека целостно да изхраним демокрацията и свободата
VASIL_P
15.10.2025, 11:51факт!
NINJA
15.10.2025, 11:51Браво, Коцев
заидно_с_европа
15.10.2025, 12:21варна заидно с европа
asd123
15.10.2025, 13:30Коцев
BG_TIGAR
15.10.2025, 13:34ние го избрахме за губернатор, а не за полицай
guest123
15.10.2025, 13:31Благомир Коцев - герой
нна_🤬
15.10.2025, 13:38Благомир Коцев - героат нна Варна 🤬
BabaGanka
15.10.2025, 13:40Слава Варна
19A
15.10.2025, 16:02Аз така мислq
ГОШО
15.10.2025, 16:04благородно сте, благомир коцев
BratVasko2016
15.10.2025, 16:03Сърце ми бие за Варна
jivko1985
15.10.2025, 16:19Благомир Коцев - героят на Варна
fan_45
15.10.2025, 16:19ХорoSо
я
15.10.2025, 16:29Я се радвам
d. Миланов
15.10.2025, 16:55Благо, ти си героят
че_кмета_ко
15.10.2025, 17:18Аз така мисля, че даденият отговор на кмета Ко
xD
15.10.2025, 18:09Да се бранят демократи
zlata_koti
15.10.2025, 18:29Варна се бори за свобода