Mayor Nikolay Rashkov of Gorna Oryahovitsa removed over conflict of interest, early elections set

Bulgaria’s Supreme Administrative Court confirmed that Gorna Oryahovitsa mayor Nikolay Rashkov was in a conflict of interest after signing a contract to sell eight municipal properties to the company Mirvana OOO – a firm he had previously co‑owned and later transferred to his mother. The court upheld the anti‑corruption commission’s finding, imposed a 5,000 lev fine and upheld a two‑year ban on holding public office.

The ruling triggers the termination of Rashkov’s mayoral mandate by the municipal election commission and a presidential decree to schedule partial (early) elections, expected on 22 October. Rashkov is barred from running in the early vote but may be eligible for the regular elections once the ban expires. He has publicly contested the decision, claiming the sale was lawful and that the municipality used the proceeds to cover part of its debts.