The Sofia City Prosecutor’s Office has initiated pre-trial proceedings on its own initiative following a media report detailing alleged abuses within the Road Infrastructure Agency concerning a free roadside assistance service. The ongoing investigation involves questioning witnesses and requesting documentation from the Road Infrastructure Agency while gathering and verifying evidence. The focus of the inquiry pertains to individuals who are not direct employees of the Ministry of Interior.
The allegations suggest a scheme involving the unlawful subcontracting of road maintenance activities, potentially diverting funds amounting to at least BGN 14 million (over EUR 7 million) monthly since 2025. Specifically, the report claims that the Road Infrastructure Agency illegally subcontracted the provision of 24/7 free roadside assistance to Unit Assist Ltd. This company, in turn, is accused of further unlawfully subcontracting the activity to at least 11 other businesses.
The publication also highlighted concerns regarding the owner’s criminal background and alleged that no state institution had publicly notified citizens about the existence of the free roadside service, despite its inclusion in road maintenance contracts dating back to at least 2014. Furthermore, the report alleges attempts by state entities to establish a monopoly favoring Unit Assist, alongside claims of pressure tactics against competitors. Adding context, caretaker Regional Development Minister Nikolay Naydenov stated on April 9 that the state intends to withdraw from what he termed a non-core activity.
He announced that the practice of mandating that stranded drivers utilize a designated state-linked roadside service would cease, leaving such services to competitive market forces.
Topics: #road #free #roadside
