site.btaOpposition Parties React to Varna Ex-Mayor's Indictment

Stela Nikolova, MP of Yes, Bulgaria from the Varna Constituency and ranking member of the party, submitted an alert to the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) against Varna's ex-mayor Ivan Portnih, Yes, Bulgaria said in a press release on Monday.

Earlier in the day, the EPPO said it had indicted Portnih, former Varna regional governor Stoyan Pasev and two public officials of the Executive Agency Maritime Administration for fraud relating to the reconstruction of a fishing port that did not exist.

"This is a battle I began with the support of the people of Varna back in 2020, and the victory for our city is at long last imminent. It is time that justice has been done and those suspected of abusing EU funds be held responsible for their acts, if proven guilty," Nikolova said, quoted in the press release.

"While Bulgarian justice continues to be used as a bludgeon of repression, European justice is acting effectively, and we should endeavour to achieve this standard of the administration of justice instead of relying on somebody else to do our job," argues Nikolova, who is also a former municipal councillor.

Continue the Change, who forms an opposition coalition with Democratic Bulgaria (of which Yes, Bulgaria is a part), also reacted to the news of Portnih's indictment. "The EPPO's disclosures in the case of an alleged fraud resulting in a misappropriation of EUR 3.4 million in EU and national funds for a non-existent fishing port in Varna come as the latest in a series of compelling proofs of the abuse of public funds in this country," the party said.