Sofianites Rally again in Support of Varna Mayor

Yoana Hristova

The early hours of the protest in solidarity with Varna Mayor Blagomir Kotsev, central Sofia, July 18, 2025 (BTA Photo/Minko Chernev)

Sofia,

18.07.2025 19:20

(BTA)

Sofianites are rallying again Friday to express solidarity with the Mayor of Varna, Blagomir Kotsev, whom they see as a victim of a political repression.

Kotsev was arrested in early July and charged with participating in an organized crime group for corruption, along with two Varna municipal councilors, Nikolay Stefanov and Yordan Kateliev, and businessman Ivaylo Marinov. The four appealed their arrest but the Sofia Appellate Court ruled - at midnight on July 17 - that the three politicians should stay in remand until their trial. The business owner was released.

The Friday rally in Sofia is taking place under the slogan "You don't have enough handcuffs for all of us!" and is organized by the opposition Continue the Change party. Kotsev and his two co-defendants are affiliated with Continue the Change.

There is strong police presence in the area where the rally started.

People are carrying slogans reading "Down with the prosecutors' mafia!" and "Deliver justice - don't run errands!". Among the ralliers are MPs of Continue the Change and municipal councilors.

The previous protest in Sofia - and in other cities - took place only a couple of days ago, on Wednesday.

/IV/