SOFIA — The Sofia City Court has upheld a decision to keep four individuals in permanent detention following their arrest during a February 22 protest organized by the pro-Russian “Revival” party.
The demonstration, which escalated into violence, included acts of vandalism targeting the House of Europe in Sofia, which houses the representation offices of European institutions.
The court’s ruling is final and has intensified tensions between the Bulgarian judiciary and “Revival” supporters. The judges determined that there was sufficient evidence to support the charges against the detainees, one of whom is reportedly the son of a deputy.
They cited the seriousness of the offenses, the risk of the accused fleeing, and the potential for them to commit further crimes. According to the court’s reasoning, the attack occurred in broad daylight in a central part of the capital, witnessed by numerous bystanders, which they described as a “particularly audacious and cynical act.”
Although the defendants have no prior criminal records, the court emphasized that this did not lessen the severity of their actions, which directly targeted an institutional building and law enforcement officers.
Inside the packed courtroom, the decision was met with outrage from “Revival” supporters, who responded with boos and insults directed at the judicial panel.
The party’s leader, Kostadin Kostadinov, condemned the ruling, referring to the detained individuals as “the first political prisoners in Bulgaria.”
Kostadinov asserted that the court’s decision would not deter “Revival” from pursuing its cause, vowing to continue their struggle against what he called a politically motivated prosecution.
Kostadinov also accused several political figures, including Boyko Borissov, Delyan Peevski, and Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov, of orchestrating the proceedings against his party.
Addressing the pending parliamentary vote on lifting the immunity of four “Revival” MPs, a move requested by Prosecutor General Sarafov, Kostadinov declared that his party members would not voluntarily comply.
“The issue will be decided in the plenary hall, where it will become clear who stands on which side,” he told supporters outside the courthouse.
Earlier in the hearing, the defense argued that the accused had no prior legal offenses and insisted that the prosecution had not presented irrefutable proof of their guilt.
In response, the prosecution maintained that the evidence was sufficient and emphasized the risk that the defendants might commit further crimes if released.
While the court acknowledged that there was no immediate risk of the defendants attempting to flee, it upheld the detention based on the gravity of the charges and the need to preserve public order.
Before the court session, a crowd of “Revival” supporters gathered outside the courthouse in a show of solidarity with the detainees. Several party MPs were present as Kostadinov addressed the crowd, framing the legal actions as an attack on his party and its supporters.
“They are being punished simply for wanting to be free people in a free country,” he declared, vowing that the protests would continue.
The February 22 demonstration, which initially began as a protest against Bulgaria’s support for European sanctions on Russia, quickly turned violent, resulting in property damage and clashes with law enforcement.
The court’s decision to uphold the detentions marks a significant escalation in the ongoing confrontation between “Revival” and Bulgarian authorities.