Scenes from Monday in Sofia, Bulgaria

Comment from a Bulgarian reader:

"That's a complete joke, guys. This is not a protest. I know so many people who are actually paid to be there, and all the troublemakers were paid very well to cause the damage they did. We're protesting the budget, but just like the last 30 budgets before this one, it will likely be passed on December 25th in an emergency cabinet meeting, while the population is drunk and celebrating Christmas."

Bulgaria Bros - don't get drunk on Christmas this year!

Same reader from Bulgaria on what needs to change:

"Bro, the only solution for Bulgaria is not a mass protest, is a fucking bloody revolution and the heads of all government officials from the last 30 years be put on a spike on National Assembly Square in Sofia.
Nothing less will help"

If you're from Bulgaria - do you agree?

Let's speed run through some key players in Bulgaria and why such sentiment exists:

Boyko Borisov, Bulgaria’s longtime prime minister and leader of GERB, has been dogged for years by allegations of entrenched corruption, state capture, and ties to organized crime figures from his early career in security services. Critics accuse him of overseeing a government that systematically misused EU funds, rigged public tenders, and protected oligarchic interests. In 2022, he was briefly detained during an investigation into the misuse of European Union financial aid — though later released without charges due to insufficient evidence. Photos, recordings, and testimonies have repeatedly surfaced in the media alleging bribery, influence-peddling, and abuse of power, though none have resulted in conviction. Whether proven or not, Borisov is viewed by many Bulgarians as the symbol of the country’s deeply rooted corruption.

Delyan Peevski, a powerful media mogul and longtime MP with the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS), is one of Bulgaria’s most controversial public figures. He was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury under the Global Magnitsky Act for “extensive corruption,” including allegations of bribery, influence over judicial appointments, and manipulating government decisions through a network of loyal intermediaries. Peevski’s dominance in Bulgarian media has also drawn criticism for suppressing press freedom and shaping narratives favorable to political allies. Because of his ability to influence courts, elections, and political negotiations, critics frequently cite him as a key architect of Bulgaria’s so-called “state capture.” Although he has never been convicted in Bulgarian courts, international sanctions and domestic investigations have made his political role extremely contentious.

Ahmed Dogan, founder and long-dominant leader of the DPS party, has been surrounded by political controversy for decades. Declassified documents from Bulgaria’s post-communist commission showed him listed as a collaborator with the communist-era State Security services, which continues to fuel debate about his role before 1989. He has been criticized for transforming DPS into a king-maker party that brokers political power behind the scenes, benefiting from state contracts and influence networks including in Turkey. Dogan faced corruption accusations related to lucrative consulting fees on hydro-energy projects, although he was acquitted. More recently, he has been accused by political rivals of bearing responsibility for aspects of the late-communist “Revival Process” — the forced assimilation campaign against the Turkish minority. His influence, often exercised informally rather than through official posts, remains one of the most divisive aspects of Bulgarian politics.

Ivan Kostov, Bulgaria’s prime minister from 1997 to 2001, is remembered for major economic reforms but also for controversies tied to the chaotic privatizations of the post-communist transition. His government sold off state assets rapidly — a process critics say enabled massive wealth transfers to politically connected businessmen. Throughout his career, Kostov has faced allegations of favoritism, nepotism, and blackmail within high-level political and business negotiations. Some businessmen publicly accused figures close to him of demanding bribes or using state pressure to influence deals. Although he has not been convicted of any crime, the perception that his reforms benefited a narrow elite at the expense of ordinary citizens continues to shape his controversial legacy.

Sergei Stanishev, former prime minister and leader of the Bulgarian Socialist Party, led Bulgaria during a period marked by accusations of corruption, administrative dysfunction, and state infiltration by organized-crime groups. Several scandals during his tenure involved senior officials in the interior ministry allegedly leaking sensitive information to criminal networks. Stanishev himself faced investigation for mishandling classified documents — though ultimately, the charges did not lead to significant penalties. Critics argue that although he publicly advocated reforms, his government failed to curb the influence of oligarchic networks or strengthen judicial independence, contributing to the climate of corruption that European institutions repeatedly criticized in their reports on Bulgaria.

Blagomir Kotsev, mayor of Varna and a figure from the reformist WCC–DB coalition, became a major controversy in 2025 after being detained on charges of participating in an organized criminal group, bribery, coercion, and abuse of office. Prosecutors allege that Kotsev and associates demanded kickbacks from municipal contracts, including a large catering procurement, and pressured businesses to manipulate city decisions. Supporters argue the case is politically motivated, surfacing after he unseated long-standing local networks. His arrest sparked nationwide protests and accusations of “selective justice.” Kotsev was later released on high bail, with legal proceedings ongoing, making the case a symbol of Bulgaria’s struggles with corruption, institutional trust, and politicized justice.

Learning a lot on Bulgaria today. Unsure if this was the right move.

Since the fall of communism in 1989 - over 250 high profile assassinations have taken place in and around Sofia, Bulgaria with 1 conviction so far

Violeta Sechkova for Honorary Consul of Korea in Plovdiv c. 2021

Her husband had close ties with Borisov and she "discreetly" received Honorary Consul privileges (akin to ambassadors) from Bulgaria's government.

—Five private forwards

🇹🇷 Turkish President Erdogan:
Above all, we are a nation and a state guided by conscience.

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