site.btaAssociation of Prosecutors in Bulgaria Issues Statement of Solidarity with Prosecutors Handling Varna Mayor Case

Reacting to a public outcry over the prosecutors’ actions in a pre-trial proceeding against the Mayor of Varna, Blagomir Kotsev, the Association of Prosecutors in Bulgaria issued a declaration on Wednesday asserting that prosecutors "apply the law equally for all citizens" and expressing solidarity with the prosecutors handling Kotsev's case. "One’s office, political status or public authority cannot serve as justification for exemption from criminal liability," the statement says.

Kotsev, who won the mayor's office in Varna on the ticket of Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria, was arrested on July 9 following a tipoff for corruption by a failed public procurement tenderer. The arrest caused an outrage and accusations of political repressions. Protests were held in Sofia and Varna, and more are planned for Wednesday, including in London, Brussels, Berlin and Munich. The Renew Europe group in the European Parliament, of which Continue Change is a part, condemned the growing attack on democratic institutions and the rule of law in Bulgaria, of which they believe the Varna Mayor's arrest is an illustration. The President of the ALDE Party and Member of the European Parliament, Svenja Hahn, wrote a letter to European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, Michael McGrath, raising alarm over what she describes as a "systematic campaign of political pressure" against the Bulgarian opposition party Continue the Change. 

The Association of Prosecutors insist in their statement that "the principle of equality before the law is non-negotiable". "The prosecution has not only the right but the constitutional duty to investigate every crime, regardless of the suspect’s identity or position," it goes.

The statement says further: "Procedural actions by the prosecution are carried out in strict compliance with the law and are subject to control by an independent court. All coercive procedural measures, including requests for pre-trial detention, are subject to subsequent review and oversight by the court. The court ensures the balance between the rights of the accused and the public interest. Therefore, suggestions of arbitrary or unilateral behavior by the prosecution are unfounded and misleading."

The Association "strongly rejects any characterizations portraying prosecutorial actions as political repression". "Such claims erode the foundations of the judiciary, undermine trust in institutions, and hinder prosecutors’ ability to serve society and help combat corruption effectively. Recent insinuations of “repressions” and “PR stunts” are not based on facts, but on political interests unrelated to the work of law enforcement agencies."

The Association vows solidarity with the Sofia City Prosecution Office which is handling Kotsev's case.

"In recent days, the prosecutors [in Kotsev's case] have been subject to personal attacks, mocking commentary, and public and professional discrediting. We call for respect of the principles of separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary and the prosecution specifically. Personal attacks on individual magistrates are unacceptable,” the statement goes.