Varna court schedules trial for former mayor over lake pollution

The Varna Regional Court has scheduled the first substantive hearing for the case against former Varna Mayor Ivan Portnih for November 26. The legal proceedings involve the pollution of the Varna Lake caused by a broken pipeline.

Prosecutors allege that Portnih failed to act as a responsible official regarding the installation of a pipeline, which was required to be placed at a depth of three meters below the lake bottom. Additionally, he is accused of failing to inform the public about the environmental state of the area between August 2019 and September 2020, contributing to the limited pollution of Bulgaria's internal marine waters.

The case has a complex history, having been returned by the court to the prosecution twice due to procedural errors. Defense attorney Menko Menkov has pointed out 16 discrepancies in the indictment, including errors in currency conversion between Bulgarian lev and euro. Despite these objections, the court ruled that the case will proceed, allowing Portnih the opportunity to assert his innocence in court.