The prosecution formally served former environment and water minister Borislav Sandov with an indictment in connection with the Petrohan case. Sandov’s lawyer, Alexander Kashumov, told the media that although they considered the summons procedurally irregular, they had agreed to proceed with the charges because they respected the investigation and did not want to obstruct the authorities in carrying out their work. Sandov is currently subject to the mildest standard statutory measure of restraint subscription.
The Sofia City Prosecution Office charged the former environment minister with unlawfully granting supervisory powers over protected areas in the vicinity of the Petrohan mountain lodge to a non-governmental organization.
According to the charges, on February 8, 2022, in his capacity as environment and water minister, Sandov exceeded his authority by signing an agreement with the National Protected Areas Control Agency and assigning the organization powers vested in the state, including supervisory functions. Prosecutors allege that the purpose was to secure a benefit for the NGO. The benefit consisted of granting the organization and persons designated by it unrestricted access to land in the area above the Petrohan lodge, Sofia City Prosecution Office spokesperson Nikolay Nikolaev told the media.
Nikolaev added that, according to the indictment, this resulted in significant harm to citizens and the state: public access was restricted and the prestige of the state was undermined, since powers exercised on behalf of the state cannot be delegated to private associations.
Kashumov, on his part, described the charges as “absurd”. He also said that Sandov had been summoned for questioning in March in connection with the investigation into the Petrohan lodge murders, shortly before the parliamentary election, and that the current action was being taken shortly before the presidential election. According to Kashumov, there had never been any unlawful delegation of powers to an NGO.
The investigation opened in 2022. “We have no answer to the question of why charges are being brought only now. We had no idea this investigation even existed. The investigator himself got the case in April this year,” Kashumov said.
“The state must continue to improve the way it protects the environment. In all developed countries, this is done through cooperation not only with other institutions, but also with citizens through their non-governmental organizations. This has happened in Bulgaria as well, and it will continue to happen,” Sandov told the media.
He added that the specific framework agreement did not confer supervisory powers, create any rights, restrict anyone’s rights, or result in any benefits or harmful actions.
Sandov further said that nothing had actually taken place on the basis of the agreement signed with the NGO, the National Protected Areas Control Agency. “It was a foundation on which something could be built, but in itself it grants no rights and creates no obligations,” he said. According to Sandov, the law does not require preliminary checks of such organizations, although numerous checks had in fact been carried out and no violations had been found.
He said that while serving as minister, he had met three times at the ministry with the organization’s representative, Ivaylo Ivanov, and that after leaving office he had visited the Petrohan lodge three times.
Sandov also said that payment had never been discussed at any point.
The prosecution is also conducting a separate pre-trial investigation into circumstances related to the financing of activities and financial transactions involving the NGO that operates the Petrohan lodge. Investigators have identified bank accounts belonging to related persons in Bulgaria, as well as a foreign bank account falling under United States jurisdiction.
Ex-Environment Minister Charged in Petrohan Case, Lawyer Questions Timing Ahead of Presidential Election 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-09-30 10:59:10
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