Mayor of General Toshevo arrested over misappropriation of EU funds

A protest in support of the mayor of General Toshevo Municipality was organised in front of the police building in Dobrich by the local structure of the BSP. Valentin Dimitrov was detained on August 9 at the request of the European Prosecutor's Office over investigation of misappropriation of EU funds. This is the first arrest in Bulgaria at the request of European Chief Prosecutor Laura Kövesi.

According to the protesters, the signal was politically-motivated, as it takes place before the local elections, in which Dimitrov wants to run for a third term.

Dimitrov was detained for procedural actions on suspicion of misuse of 169,000 euros of EU subsidies that were for energy efficiency of social housing. The case is from the period 2017-2019. On August 10, the mayor was released, but the investigation continues.