The first sitting of the Vidin District Court on a case against Vidin mayor Gergo Gergov was adjourned after the defendant failed to appear.

It was ruled that he should be brought to court by force at the next session.

The website Dariknews.bg reports that the summons was sent to Gergov's address in Vidin but was handed to his mother, which explained her son was on a leave.

The District Court in Bulgaria's town of Vidin was due to sit on a request to discharge mayor Gergo Gergov issued by the Sofia City Prosecutor's Office.

Prosecutors indicted Gergov after he was arrested in an investigation carried out by the State Agency for National Security (DANS).

Gergov is to be charged with breach of duties he allegedly committed while signing a contract with a firm assigned to make food supplies to budgetary institutions.

A demonstration supporting the mayor was held at 13:30 EEST (11:30 GMT) in front of the Vidin Municipality building to coincide with the beginning of the court session.

The prospective dismissal of Gergov left Vidin's population divided, and rival petitions "pro" and "contra" have been launched.