The Sofia City Prosecutor’s Office has initiated pre-trial proceedings based on media reports concerning alleged abuses within the Road Infrastructure Agency and its associated free roadside assistance service. The investigation involves questioning witnesses and requesting documentation from the Agency to gather and verify evidence. The inquiry specifically targets activities conducted by individuals outside the Ministry of Interior.
Reports suggest that following alleged pressure from national police in 2025, the provision of roadside assistance services managed by the Agency was expanded. The central allegation involves a scheme for the unlawful subcontracting of road maintenance activities, potentially diverting sums amounting to at least BGN 14 million per month (over EUR 7 million). Specifically, the allegations claim that since 2025, the Road Infrastructure Agency has allegedly subcontracted the 24/7 free roadside assistance provision to Unit Assist Ltd.
This company, in turn, is accused of unlawfully subcontracting the service to at least eleven other businesses. Furthermore, the report highlights the alleged criminal history of the company’s owner and notes that no state institution has publicly informed citizens about the existence of the free service, despite its inclusion in road maintenance contracts since at least 2014. Sources cited in the report allege attempts to establish a monopoly for Unit Assist, allegedly involving state institutions, alongside pressure and extortion against accident victims.
Separately, on April 9, caretaker Regional Development Minister Nikolay Naydenov stated that the state is withdrawing from what he termed a non-core activity, indicating that roadside assistance services would transition to competitive market forces, and the current practice of compelling drivers to use a designated state-linked service would cease.
Topics: #road #free #roadside
