site.btaCC-DB MP Kiril Petkov Describes as Absurd Varna Mayor’s, Former Sofia Deputy Mayor’s Placement in Lockdown in Sofia Prison

“It is absurd for [former Sofia deputy mayor] Nikola Barbutov and [Varna Mayor] Blagomir Kotsev to be placed in lockdown in Sofia Prison,” Kiril Petkov told journalists at the Palace of Justice on Wednesday. Petkov is former prime minister and former co-leader of Continue the Change, now an opposition party within the CC-DB coalition. Earlier on Wednesday, he appeared before the Sofia City Court (SCC) for a hearing in a case concerning official misconduct brought against him. He is charged with offences committed in his capacity as prime minister. The hearing was postponed until January 2026.

“One of them is being held with a person who has Hepatitis B — on Saturday he was locked up under the risk of being infected. The other is sitting in low temperatures of 11 C,” Petkov added.

On 17 November, Continue the Change expressed strong indignation at the decision to transfer the lawfully elected Mayor of Varna, Blagomir Kotsev, from jail to prison — despite the court’s refusal to examine a request submitted by his defence to alter his remand measure, and in the absence of a final conviction. Former Sofia deputy mayor Nikola Barbutov was transferred on the same grounds. Last Thursday, the Sofia City Prosecution Office submitted an indictment against Kotsev to the Sofia City Court. He will stand trial together with four co-defendants charged for conspiring to commit bribery and coercion in order to obtain an economic benefit. Barbutov, charged with participation in an organized criminal group and offering a bribe, was indicted a day later.

Petkov told the media that neither Kotsev nor Barbutov has been convicted, adding that “this outrage cannot continue for them.” “I hope all Bulgarians who see that such injustice cannot be allowed to happen in Bulgaria in 2025 come out [to protest] on Thursday and support them,” Petkov said.

Deputy Sofia City Prosecutor Angel Kanev said before the media that as of Tuesday afternoon there had been no written report on the case. According to him, he learned on Wednesday from Petkov’s comments to the media that Blagomir Kotsev had been placed in a cell with someone infected with Hepatitis B.

“A check will be carried out regarding this case,” Prosecutor Kanev told journalists. He added that weekly inspections are conducted in places of detention.

Varna Mayor Blagomir Kotsev was arrested in the late hours of 8 July 2025. On 16 October, the Sofia Court of Appeal upheld his detention; he is charged in a corruption investigation. On 17 November, he was transferred from jail to prison.

Former Sofia deputy mayor Nikola Barbutov has been charged with an offence in public office. On 24 June, officers from the Anti-Corruption Commission searched the Sofia Municipality building. The actions followed publicly announced information about alleged pressure exerted on the mayors of Sofia’s Mladost and Lyulin districts and two municipal councillors. Shortly afterwards, Sofia Deputy Mayor Nikola Barbutov, responsible for European policies, international activities and tourism, left the building accompanied by police.