Balgarianovinite.com Caretaker Interior Minister Emil Dechev was heard in Parliament on Wednesday amid allegations that he had exerted pressure on investigators working on a high-profile multiple deaths case, the Petrohan–Okolchitsa Case, which has drawn intense public and political scrutiny. Earlier the same day, caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov said that Dechev and the entire cabinet were being targeted by an intimidation campaign but stressed that the government remained resolute in its commitment to ensure fair elections and restore trust in state institutions.
Petrohan–Okolchitsa is a high-profile criminal case in which five men and a 15-year-old boy met a violent death between February 1 and 8. Their bodies were found in two remote mountain locations in Northwestern Bulgaria: a lodge near the Petrohan Pass and a camper van near Okolchitsa Peak. Forensic experts established that all six died of gunshot wounds. Law enforcement officials said the principal leads they followed, based on ballistics findings, the causes of death have been identified as suicide at the lodge and homicide and suicide in the camper.
Speaking at the start of a government meeting, Prime Minister Gurov described the allegations against the Interior Minister as part of a coordinated attempt to destabilize the caretaker cabinet. “An intimidation operation has been launched against the Interior Minister,” Gurov said, adding that pressure would not force the government to retreat from its mandate to restore order and public confidence.
Addressing lawmakers, Dechev categorically denied claims that he had interfered in the investigation or attempted to influence the work of investigative teams working on the Petrohan-Okolchitsa case. “I insisted on a full, comprehensive and objective investigation into both cases,” he told Parliament, saying he had neither met with investigating police officers nor issued instructions regarding the direction of the probe. He confirmed having met in a restaurant with the head of the criminal police, Angel Papalezov but only to be briefed as far as possible about what was known in the case – not to interfere in the investigation.
Papalezov himself told the MPs that he had not experienced pressure from the Interior Minister and had received no instructions beyond sharing publicly approved information. “The only instruction I was given was to ensure that those working on the two cases were present at the Ministry of Interior the following day,” Papalezov said.
During the same parliamentary hearing, Interior Ministry Secretary General Miroslav Rashkov, whose removal has been proposed by Dechev, warned that political pressure could undermine the Petrohan-Okolchitsa investigation. “I wish to express my serious concerns regarding the future of the Petrohan investigation and the assurance of objectivity in uncovering the full truth,” Rashkov told lawmakers. Also, he rejected in detail the stated reasons for his dismissal.
Shortly after Rashkov addressed the deputies, President Iliana Iotova signed a decree terminating his powers as Secretary General of the Ministry of the Interior.
Separately, the General Directorate Border Police said that the non-governmental organization National Protected Areas Control Agency, which used Petrohan Lodge – the scene of the first three deaths – had no formal powers or agreements with the Interior Ministry, despite having provided one-time technical assistance during an operation near the Petrohan lodge. Border Police stressed that “no reports of abuse of power” by the NGO had been registered. Interior Minister Heard in Parliament over Petrohan-Okolchitsa Case, PM Warns Cabinet Is Target of Intimidation Campaign 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-02-25 16:25:00 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law