Gorna Oryahovitsa mayor Nikolay Rashkov faces probe over illegal municipal eavesdropping

The District Prosecutor's Office in Veliko Tarnovo is leading an investigation into the placement of illegal listening devices inside the Gorna Oryahovitsa municipal building. Former municipal staff reported discovering the devices in offices and lodged a formal complaint, prompting technical examinations and the interrogation of dozens of witnesses, including mayor Nikolay Rashkov.

The inquiry, launched in March, targets an unknown perpetrator; no suspect has been identified. Employees who reported the devices have left the administration, officially under a "staff optimisation" scheme. The case coincides with political pressure on Rashkov, as the municipal electoral commission is set to decide on July 31 whether to terminate his early mandate, which could trigger partial local elections. Bulgarian law stipulates imprisonment of up to six years for illegal surveillance.