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Breaking: Kiril Petkov, Co-Chair of "Continue the Change," Summoned by Sofia City Prosecutor’s Office

Kiril Petkov, the co-chair of the political party "Continue the Change," has been summoned to the Sofia City Prosecutor’s Office, where he is expected to face charges. According to information circulating in the public social media groups of the party’s supporters, they are preparing to rally in solidarity with Petkov in front of the former specialized court building.

The charges against Petkov are related to the arrest of GERB leader Boyko Borisov, party PR Sevdelina Arnadova, and former Finance Minister Vladislav Goranov on March 17, 2022. Prosecutors allege that, in his capacity as Prime Minister at the time, Petkov abused his power by ordering the arrest of the three, which damaged their reputation and constituted a significant blow to the country’s standing. The state has since argued that the court would have dismissed the detention measures due to the lack of prosecutor backing.

Over two years after the arrests, Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov requested the parliamentary immunity of Kiril Petkov, with Petkov voluntarily waiving his immunity.

Ex-Prime Minister Kiril Petkov Facing Charges for Alleged Power Abuse

In a turn of events, former Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov will appear for questioning at the Specialised Criminal Court in Sofia tomorrow, January 11. Petkov is accused of exceeding his powers during the arrest of Boyko Borisov, the leader of GERB party. Petkov has already waived his immunity, hiring the prominent lawyer Daniela Dokovska to represent him.

The opposition party "Continue the Change" has called on its supporters to rally outside the courthouse on ul. Chervopenhа 90 at 10:30 AM, expressing solidarity with Petkov and disdain for what they perceive as excessive pressure from political ‘mafia’. The party has underlined that the actions against them are part of a broader attack on the democratic process, with lawfully elected mayors and councilors targeted, and opposition figures like Lachezar Stavrev detained on allegedly fabricated charges.

The party’s statement echoes recent claims that certain individuals have hijacked the judicial system to settle political scores, mocking both the rule of law and the fundamental rights of Bulgarian citizens. "Continue the Change" has invited the public to join them tomorrow, urging the prosecution to act independently and uphold justice.

The call comes as Bulgarians continue to voice concerns about the influence of political interests on the appointment of the Chief Prosecutor, a position currently held by Ivan Geshev. Fears are growing that, without adequate checks and balances, the politicisation of the judiciary could lead to further erosion of democratic norms and disregard for the public’s will.

Breaking News: Bulgarian MP Voluntarily Surrenders Immunity; Others Follow Suit

In a significant development, MP Veselin Veshev from the "Vazrazhdane" party has voluntarily surrendered his parliamentary immunity at the start of today’s parliamentary session. This move was officially announced by Natalia Kiselova. It’s worth noting that Veshev is one of the six deputies whose immunity was recently sought by the acting chief prosecutor, Borislav Sarafov.

In a chain reaction, three other MPs have also renounced their immunity in the past 24 hours. These include**

• Radostin Vasilev, leader of the MEP faction
• Angel Georgiev from "Vazrazhdane"
• Gunay Daloolu from the DPS-New Beginning coalition

However, Veselin Veshev’s party colleague, Mario Rangelov from the DPS-DPS faction, and Lena Borislavova from the PP, whose immunity was also sought by Sarafov, have yet to follow suit. Borislavova had initially stated that she intended to do so after the holidays, citing reluctance to allow the prosecution to disrupt her festive plans. Similarly, Rangelov has expressed readiness to relinquish his immunity but wishes to first review the prosecution’s case documents before proceeding.

stays to be seen if these remaining MPs will also surrender their immunity in the coming days. As the situation unfolds, it’s clear that the political landscape in Bulgaria is in a state of flux, with significant implications for the future of the current government.