The Sofia City Prosecutor’s Office has initiated pre-trial proceedings based on media reports alleging potential abuses within the Road Infrastructure Agency concerning the free roadside assistance service. These proceedings involve questioning witnesses, requesting documentation from the Agency, and conducting various investigative actions to gather and verify evidence. The investigation specifically targets the activities of individuals who are not direct employees of the Ministry of Interior.
The reports suggest that in 2025, roadside assistance services managed by the Agency were expanded, allegedly under pressure from the national police. The core concern revolves around an alleged scheme of 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 illegally subcontracted the provision of 24/7 free roadside assistance for citizens to Unit Assist Ltd.
This company is further accused of unlawfully subcontracting this activity to at least eleven other businesses. Furthermore, the report highlights the owner’s prior criminal history and asserts that no state institution has publicly notified citizens about the existence of this free roadside assistance service, despite its inclusion in road maintenance contracts dating back to at least 2014. The publication also cited claims of attempts by state institutions to impose a monopoly favoring Unit Assist, alongside alleged pressure and extortion against victims of traffic accidents.
In a related development, on April 9, caretaker Regional Development Minister Nikolay Naydenov announced that the state would withdraw from what he termed a non-core activity, leaving roadside assistance services to competitive market forces, and that the practice of obligating stranded drivers to use a designated state-linked service would cease.
Topics: #road #free #roadside
