The Varna District Court has resumed proceedings in a high-profile corruption case involving Varna Mayor Blagomir Kotsev, alongside municipal councilors Yordan Kateliev and Nikolay Stefanov, businessman Yordan Marinov, and PR specialist Antoaneta Petrova. The defendants face charges related to participation in an alleged criminal group, bribery solicitation, and coercion for material benefit.

The trial had been paused in March after Kateliev and Stefanov entered the electoral race for parliament in the April 19 vote. At that time, their candidacy created legal grounds for the suspension of the proceedings. However, following the publication of the official results in the State Gazette and confirmation that neither was elected to the National Assembly, the court determined that the conditions for suspension were no longer valid. As a result, the case has now been formally reopened and scheduled for review in open court.

A preliminary hearing is set for June 30, with a backup date of July 14 in case of procedural delays. The court's decision restores full judicial proceedings in the case under file No. 1716/2025.

Blagomir Kotsev was detained on July 8, 2025, initially held in a pre-trial facility in Sofia before being transferred to Varna prison. He faced accusations tied to alleged corruption activities linked to his role as mayor. In late November, he was released after a bail of 200,000 leva was raised by supporters in a short period of time, following a court decision to replace his detention with a financial guarantee.

During earlier procedural stages, Kotsev had been held under ?detention in custody? before the measure was changed to bail shortly before his release. The case remains ongoing, with all defendants continuing to face charges as the court prepares to proceed with hearings in the coming weeks.