The Sofia City Court put an end — albeit not a final one — to the more than half-year long saga surrounding the legitimacy of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee. With a decision dated October 29, 2025, Judge Stoyu Zgurov rejected all appeals against the election of Vesela Lecheva as chairman of the BOC. This was reported by "Sega" newspaper.

Lawsuit No. 20251100900823 was filed by the Bulgarian Badminton Federation (BBF), and two Olympians — wrestler Zhivko Vangelov and athlete Plamen Krastev — sought to join as third parties. However, the court did not accept their arguments or their requests to participate in the proceedings.

This decision practically restores the possibility for the newly elected leadership of the BOC to be entered into the Commercial Register — a procedure that has been blocked since March due to numerous court appeals.
The decision can be appealed, but it paves the way for the normalization of the Olympic movement in our country.

The IOC recognized Lecheva back in May.

We recall that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had already recognized Vesela Lecheva as the legitimate representative of Bulgaria in the Olympic movement. An official letter dated May 17, signed by IOC Director James Macleod, stated that only the leadership elected on March 19 has the right to represent the country in international sports forums.

This led to a paradox: in Bulgaria, Stefka Kostadinova remained the legal representative, while internationally, Lecheva was registered as the leader of the BOC. The new decision of the SCC appears to be the first step towards unifying this dual status.

Next legal steps.

The decision of the Sofia City Court can be appealed before the Court of Appeals within two weeks. Meanwhile, on November 7, a new hearing is scheduled for another case, filed by former BOC Secretary General Belcho Goranov, supported by prominent athletes such as Hristo Markov, Atanas Tarev, and Zhivko Vangelov.

Proceedings initiated by the wrestling and weightlifting federations are also underway concurrently. Thus, the final judicial conclusion of the saga has not yet arrived — although today's decision is the most significant legal success for Lecheva's team so far.

The decision of the Sofia City Court could prove to be a turning point for the entire sports system in Bulgaria. It not only strengthens Vesela Lecheva's position but also creates an opportunity for the Olympic movement to restore its normal rhythm.
We recall that Lyubomir Ganev was also elected to the new leadership of the BOC, where he remains vice-president.