Protests erupted in Sofia and other cities following the arrest of Blagomir Kotsev, mayor of Varna, on corruption charges. Accusations center on alleged embezzlement of funds related to party financing. His supporters claim the arrest is part of a government campaign against opposition figures. The controversy escalated after a witness reportedly retracted testimony under pressure. Demonstrations featured thousands calling for his release, while expatriates voiced support in Brussels. The European Parliament criticized the arrest as political repression, aligning with broader concerns on the state of the judicial system in Bulgaria.
"We want to stop the lawlessness that is happening in the judicial system and for it to start working for the people," Albena Simeonova, a 57-year-old teacher, told AFP in Sofia.
The European Parliament group Renew Europe, which Kotsev's party belongs to, has also called for his release, saying his arrest is 'political repression' and slamming it as 'a direct assault on European values.'
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