site.btaUPDATED Former Varna Deputy Mayor Questioned by Prosecution, Confirms His Initial Testimony Was Given under Pressure

Former Varna deputy mayor Dian Ivanov was questioned by the prosecution service on Thursday, it transpired during a Sofia City Court hearing on the detention measures of Varna municipal councillors Nikolay Stefanov and Yordan Kateliev, who were arrested along with Varna Mayor Blagomir Kotsev in July. According to the defence, Ivanov confirmed that his initial testimony had been given under pressure from the Anti-Corruption Commission.

During a break in the session, lawyer Ivaylo Kostov, who represents Kateliev, told reporters that the interrogation contains evidence of crimes against justice. Without providing details, he described the revelations as extremely concerning. Ivanov claims he was threatened, including by senior officials of the Anti-Corruption Commission, Kostov added.

The lawyer commented that the prosecution is entitled to decide whether to amend or drop the remand measures. He argued that the new testimony seriously compromises the entire investigation. “If this man claims he was pressured, what should we think about the other witnesses, for whom we have already presented enough evidence of bias?” Kostov said.

Sofia City Court left Kateliev and Stefanov in custody.

During the hearing, the defence and the defendants requested a lighter precautionary measure to secure the defendants' appearance. The prosecution stated that there were no new circumstances that would justify such a move. The prosecution also argued that if the measure was changed to a lighter one, there would be an increased risk of the defendants committing a crime.

Kateliev and Stefanov's lawyers said they would appeal the court's decision.

Kotsev, who won the mayor's office in Varna on the ticket of Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria was arrested late on the night of July 8 following a tipoff for corruption by a failed public procurement tenderer. On the same date, the prosecuting magistracy announced that the Anti-Corruption Commission had launched an operation in Varna under the supervision of the Sofia City Prosecution Office (SCPO). The following day, the SCPO confirmed that four individuals had been charged and detained for 72 hours in connection with a corruption investigation in Varna. Along with Kateliev and Stefanov, Kotsev has been charged with participation in an organized criminal group. The group is accused of engaging in coordinated criminal activities including abuse of office, bribery, and money laundering. The organization, allegedly formed for personal gain, includes public officials. Kotsev, Kateliev, and Stefanov are also charged with attempting to extort a sum equivalent to 15% excluding VAT of 1,523,446 BGN, of the value of a public procurement contract for the delivery of ready meals to schools and kindergartens.

On May 5, former deputy mayor Ivanov, once regarded as Kotsev’s “right-hand man”, abruptly resigned from his post, citing “health reasons”. Following his departure from Varna’s municipal leadership, Ivanov became a witness for the Anti-Corruption Commission. In his testimony, he reportedly said that Mayor Kotsev instructed him to participate in the extortion of businesswoman Plamenka Dimitrova, the owner of a catering company. However, Ivanov later recanted his testimony announcing that he had given it under pressure from the Anti-Corruption Commission.

On July 17, the Sofia Appellate Court upheld a ruling of a lower instance court and left Kotsev along with municipal councillors Stefanov and Kateliev in custody on charges of corruption. Regarding the case of Nikolov, who had publicly claimed that his testimony was given under pressure, Prosecutor Kalin Bliznakov remarked that until Nikolov is questioned further, his statements remain as valid evidence in the investigation.

On August 29, Varna Deputy Mayor for Finance and Budget Hristo Rafailov has been dismissed from his position, the Varna Municipality said in a press release but did not specify the reasons for his dismissal. As Deputy Mayor, Rafailov was among the possible candidates to take over as acting mayor during Mayor Blagomir Kotsev’s detention - currently the position is held by Pavel Popov but Kotsev's order for his appointment will be valid until August 31. Popov's appointment was challenged by the Municipal Council Chair, but was upheld by the Supreme Administrative Court.

Kotsev's arrest triggered large-scale protests in Varna, Sofia and other major cities. The arrest also caused an outrage and accusations of political repressions. 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.