The Sofia City Prosecutor’s Office has initiated pre-trial proceedings following media reports concerning alleged abuses involving the Road Infrastructure Agency and the provision of free roadside assistance. These proceedings involve questioning witnesses and requesting documentation from the Road Infrastructure Agency, alongside general investigative actions to gather and verify evidence. The investigation, according to the Prosecutor’s Office, focuses specifically on individuals who are not direct employees of the Ministry of Interior.
The allegations concern a scheme involving the unlawful subcontracting of road maintenance activities, reportedly diverting at least BGN 14 million (over EUR 7 million) monthly. The report alleges that since 2025, the Road Infrastructure Agency improperly subcontracted the provision of 24/7 free roadside assistance services to Unit Assist Ltd. This company is further accused of illegally subcontracting this activity to at least 11 other businesses.
Furthermore, the publication highlighted the owner’s criminal history and claimed that no state institution had publicly notified citizens about the existence of this free roadside assistance service, despite its inclusion in road maintenance contracts since at least 2014. The report also mentioned claims of efforts to establish a monopoly favoring Unit Assist, involving alleged pressure on competitors and extortion against victims of traffic accidents. Separately, on April 9, caretaker Regional Development Minister Nikolay Naydenov stated that the state would withdraw from what he characterized as a non-core activity, leaving roadside assistance services to competitive market forces.
He added that the current practice, which required drivers to use a designated state-linked service, would cease.
Topics: #road #free #roadside
