Varna: Mayor Blagomir Kotsev and European Democracy

"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.

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.