Second Attempt to Open Case Against Blagomir Kotsev in Varna.

The case was transferred for hearing in Varna by decision of the Supreme Court of Cassation, and the case materials — a total of 70 volumes — were submitted to the Varna District Court in November 2025. There are two protected witnesses in the case.

The five defendants face charges over a total of 12 alleged crimes. Blagomir Kotsev will answer for participation in a criminal conspiracy, solicited bribes and coercion. According to the prosecution, they demanded that about 6% of the money from public procurement contracts be returned to them, with suspicions that part of the sums went to the party coffers of the formation that nominated Kotsev.

The criminal proceedings were temporarily suspended because of the parliamentary candidate immunity of two of the defendant municipal councillors. After the elections ended and the immunities were lifted, the court resumed the proceedings on May 5, 2026, Radio Varna recalls. The hearing is scheduled for June 30, with July 14 set as a reserve date. Separately, a preliminary hearing in the resumed case is scheduled for today at 10:00 a. m.

One of the injured parties in the case has requested to be constituted as a private prosecutor and has filed a civil claim against Kotsev for non-pecuniary damages amounting to EUR 30,000.