Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister Faces Scrutiny Over Past Election Ban and Arrest Records

Sofia, Bulgaria – Stoil Tsitselkov, Bulgaria’s Deputy Prime Minister for Fair Elections, is facing mounting scrutiny following allegations of a past ban from participating in European Union election observation missions and reports of prior arrests. The accusations, leveled by the “There Is Such a People” (ITN) party and subsequently echoed by other political factions, threaten to cast a shadow over the upcoming elections and the credibility of the current caretaker government.

EU Election Observation Ban

According to information released by Stanislav Balabanov, a Member of Parliament from ITN, Tsitselkov was previously banned by the European Commission from participating in EU election observation missions for five years. Archynewsy.com reports the ban stemmed from a violation of the code of conduct for election observers, requiring observers to “behave impeccably, exercise common sense and observe the highest level of personal discretion.”

The specific incident, as reported by ITN’s Pavela Mitova on Facebook, involved an incident with a woman in a hotel room in Ghana. The ban expired earlier in 2026. The European Commission has acknowledged receiving an inquiry about the matter, stating they are “working on your inquiry and will do our best to respond as soon as possible,” according to Archynewsy.com.

Allegations of Past Arrests

ITN has likewise alleged that Tsitselkov was arrested on three separate occasions. Toshko Yordanov, chairman of the ITN parliamentary group, questioned whether Tsitselkov was arrested for possession of marijuana in 2010, for driving under the influence in 2011, and on an unspecified date in 2014. Fakti.bg reports that Stanislav Balabanov, another ITN MP, corroborated these claims, stating the arrests occurred for marijuana use and alcohol use, with details of the third arrest remaining unclear.

Political Reactions

President Iliana Iotova has called for Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov to take appropriate action if the allegations are substantiated. BNT News reports Iotova stated that the presidential institution will act as a corrective to the caretaker government.

Boyko Borissov, leader of GERB, expressed concern that Tsitselkov’s alleged past could undermine the fairness of the upcoming elections. Fakti.bg reports Borissov warned that having someone banned by the European Commission oversee the vote would be a “serious violation.”

“We Continue Change – Democratic Bulgaria” has not commented on the allegations against Tsitselkov, but denied preparing for a coalition with Rumen Radev, GERB and APS.

Constitutional Concerns Regarding Prime Minister Gyurov

Separately, ITN has raised concerns about the legality of Andrey Gyurov’s appointment as acting Prime Minister. Fakti.bg reports that Stanislav Balabanov argued that Gyurov should have resigned as deputy governor of the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) before taking office, citing a law requiring the resignation in such cases. Balabanov claims Gyurov submitted his resignation to parliament after taking the oath of office.

Tsitselkov has declined to comment on the accusations, and the government press office has not yet responded to inquiries.