Bulgarian mayors detained in corruption and influence peddling investigation

Movement for Rights and Freedoms Radoslav Revanski Dimitar Gavazov influence peddling Bulgarian corruption investigation

Bulgarian authorities have detained three mayors associated with the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) party following a series of police operations conducted between October 20 and 22, 2026. The Burgas Prosecutor's Office has charged Radoslav Revanski, Mayor of Belitsa, and Dimitar Gavazov, Mayor of Sungurlare, with participating in a criminal conspiracy to engage in influence peddling. A third individual, Hristo Shirokov, the DPS regional leader in Burgas, is also charged in the case and is currently under house arrest.

The investigation focuses on the alleged misuse of public procurement and European funds. In Belitsa, GDBOP and DANS officers conducted searches at the municipal building and the mayor's residence, seizing documents and computer equipment. In Sungurlare, authorities are examining several public procurement contracts.

The arrests have triggered intense political conflict. DPS leader Delyan Peevski has accused Prime Minister Rumen Radev of using security services as a political tool and claimed that Customs Agency Director Nikolay Shushkov pressured Mayor Revanski to switch political allegiances. The DPS party announced plans to notify European institutions regarding what they term “police repression.”

Prime Minister Radev has rejected these allegations, stating that the investigations are based on evidence of corruption and are not politically motivated. A Burgas court has ordered the detention of both Revanski and Gavazov.

Entities

Belitsa · Belitsa Municipality · Delyan Peevski · Dimitar Gavazov · GDBOP · General Directorate for Combating Organized Crime · Hristo Shirokov · Movement for Rights and Freedoms · Nikolay Shushkov · Radoslav Revanski · State Agency for National Security

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 12 SOURCES] Radoslav Revanski is a deputy chairman of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) party. www.zname.info · zonanews.bg · www.plovdiv24.bg · bgvoice.com · www.moreto.net · +3 more
[● 8 SOURCES] The investigation is focused on public procurement related to the Road Infrastructure Agency (API) and European projects. www.plovdiv24.bg · bgvoice.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Approximately 300 DPS activists and officials gathered at the municipal building in Belitsa. www.zname.info · a-specto.bg
[● 10 SOURCES] The operation took place on the morning of October 21, 2026. www.actualno.com · bgvoice.com · www.vesti.bg · zonanews.bg · www.plovdiv24.bg
[● 9 SOURCES] GDBOP and DANS conducted searches in the Belitsa municipal administration building and the home of Mayor Radoslav Revanski. bgvoice.com · www.plovdiv24.bg · www.moreto.net · fakti.bg
[● 5 SOURCES] Administrative services in the Belitsa municipality have been temporarily suspended. www.plovdiv24.bg
[● 5 SOURCES] The operation follows a similar police action in Sungurlare involving Mayor Dimitar Gavazov. www.moreto.net · www.plovdiv24.bg · bgvoice.com · fakti.bg
[● 9 SOURCES] Delyan Peevski expressed support for Revanski and criticized the government as a dictatorship. www.zname.info · bgvoice.com · zonanews.bg · www.plovdiv24.bg · safenews.bg · +1 more
[● 3 SOURCES] Mayor Erol Myumun of Kardzhali was taken for questioning. fakti.bg · www.standartnews.com · www.actualno.com
[● 9 SOURCES] Mayor Dimitar Gavazov of Sungurlare was arrested. fakti.bg · www.standartnews.com · www.burgas24.bg · dariknews.bg · bgvoice.com · +3 more
[● 4 SOURCES] Mayor Radoslav Revanski of Belitsa was detained. fakti.bg · www.standartnews.com · www.burgas24.bg · dariknews.bg
[○ 1 SOURCE] The DPS party intends to notify European institutions about the police actions. www.standartnews.com