site.btaActing Prosecutor General Asks Parliament to Strip Democracy, Rights and Freedoms MP of Immunity

Acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov submitted to the National Assembly a request to strip MP Mario Rangelov, from Democracy, Rights and Freedoms (DRF), of immunity, the prosecution service announced on April 7, 2025.

The request comes from the Sofia City Prosecution Office in connection with pre-trial proceedings initiated on April 4, 2025. From the end of March 2024 to April 4, 2025, Mario Rangelov, who has been a member of parliament in three consecutive National Assemblies, and another person allegedly asked for and accepted a bribe to exert influence over an official for holding and awarding two public procurement contracts in schools in the town of Cherven Bryag and the town of Koynare (northern Bulgaria).

One public procurement contract is worth BGN 474,686 excluding VAT, and the other is estimated to be worth BGN 1,174,164 excluding VAT, the press release reads.

The acting Prosecutor General's request includes additional materials, such as search of premises and confiscation protocols, witness interrogation protocols, physical evidence, etc.

The materials contain evidence that tie Rangelov to the manipulation of public procurement financed by programme for the construction and major renovation of sports grounds and gyms in state and municipal schools for the period 2024-2027, with a total value of BGN 240 million.

On December 19, 2024, in connection with another investigation, Sarafov filed a request to lift Mario Rangelov's immunity for crimes against the political rights of citizens, but the National Assembly, on January 24, refused to grant permission to conduct the investigation, the press release stated.

At the beginning of February this year, at the proposal of the Sofia City Prosecution Office, the acting Prosecutor General submitted a second request to lift Rangelov's immunity for forming and leading a group for the purpose of crimes against the political rights of citizens, for providing material benefit and organizing the giving of a sum of BGN 15,000 to induce voters to exercise their right to vote in favour of a particular coalition in the elections for MPs on October 27, 2024.