Bulgarian Court Overturns Varna Mayor’s Arrest as Unlawful

The Sofia District Court has ruled that the 24-hour police detention of Varna Mayor Blagomir Kotsev last July was unlawful, citing procedural failures in the arrest warrant. The decision, confirmed by the Sofia Prosecutor’s Office, found the warrant lacked specific details outlining the suspected criminal offense, referring only to a “special police operation” as justification for the arrest.

Details of the Ruling

Judge Irina Stova determined that the vague wording of the arrest order prevented Kotsev from adequately defending himself against concrete accusations. The court emphasized that a lawful detention order must clearly state the factual basis for suspecting a specific crime, including when and under what circumstances the alleged offense occurred. Novinite reported the ruling on Wednesday, February 25, 2026.

Background of the Case

Kotsev, a member of the opposition party We Continue the Change, was initially detained on July 8, 2025, under the Law on the Anti-Corruption Commission, following a proposal from the now-defunct Anti-Corruption Commission regarding alleged corruption. A subsequent 72-hour detention measure was later suspended by the Varna District Court, which returned the case to the competent court. Despite this, Kotsev was held in custody for five months while the accusations remained unproven.

Release on Bail

In November 2025, Kotsev was released from prison after supporters crowdfunded a bail of €102,262, a sum described by Bulgaria’s Capital Weekly as a potential record high for bail in the country. Balkan Insight reported that Kotsev expressed his intention to return to his duties as mayor after spending time with his family.

Appeal Process

The Sofia District Court’s ruling is subject to appeal within 14 days before the Administrative Court – Sofia-city.