site.btaProtesters Urge Presidential Pardon for Jailed Former Sofia Borough Mayor Desislava Ivancheva

A protest was held outside the President's Office on Tuesday, demanding a pardon for Desislava Ivancheva, a former mayor of Sofia’s Mladost borough, who is currently serving a six-year prison sentence for bribery. The demonstration, organized by the civic group BOEC, was held under the banner “Freedom for Ivancheva.”

Participants called on President Radev to use his constitutional power of clemency. Among the speakers was Bilyana Petrova, Ivancheva’s former deputy and co-defendant, who also served time and was released early due to health concerns. “We will never admit guilt,” Petrova declared, adding that both women were targeted for refusing to comply with corrupt practices and for halting fraudulent schemes involving municipal property and illegal construction.

Petrova claimed the administration they led blocked shady deals worth over BGN 3.6 billion and protected hundreds of municipal properties. “Desi [Ivancheva] served just 364 working days as mayor — that’s over 10 million leva per day in blocked fraud,” she said. She added that Ivancheva had fought to enforce building regulations, stopping only illegal or noncompliant projects, while allowing lawful construction to proceed.

Petrova criticized the vice president, Iliana Yotova, for implying that an admission of guilt may be a condition for clemency. “She will never get that from us,” Petrova said. She also warned of Ivancheva’s deteriorating health in prison and urged authorities to act before it is too late.

Ivancheva’s young son, Valentin Alexandrov, delivered a message to the president: “Let my mom go.”

In November 2022, Vice President Yotova stated that she would consider the request for clemency once a formal petition was submitted. That same month, the civic association Zelen Mladost submitted a pardon request on behalf of Ivancheva and Petrova, supported by a public petition.