Bulgaria's Audit Chamber moves to dismiss Gorna Oryahovitsa mayor Nikolay Rashkov

The Bulgarian Audit Chamber (Сметната палата) has decided to refer the mayor of Gorna Oryahovitsa, Nikolay Rashkov, for early removal after two judicial bodies upheld a finding that he acted in a conflict of interest. The Supreme Administrative Court confirmed the decision of the Administrative Court in February 2025, which itself affirmed the anti‑corruption commission’s ruling. Under the law, a confirmed conflict of interest triggers dismissal from office.

The Audit Chamber will notify the Municipal Election Commission, which must terminate Rashkov’s powers and, on the President’s order, schedule partial local elections, expected in October. Simultaneously, the Commission for Seizure of Unlawfully Acquired Property (KONPI) will conduct a ten‑year asset review to verify whether Rashkov’s income matches his holdings, stemming from the sale of eight municipal parcels to the firm “Mirvana” OOD, where Rashkov had been a shareholder and manager before taking office.