Balgarianovinite.com President Iliana Iotova said on Tuesday that she will do everything possible to prevent archaeology funding from being frozen again. She was speaking during a visit to the Perperikon archaeological complex, located in the Eastern Rhodope Mountains.
“I will do everything possible to prevent archaeology funding from being frozen again and to stop ministers like [Continue the Change leader] Assen Vassilev from taking away money from Bulgarian archaeology and Bulgarian museums,” Iotova said.
In June 2022, excavations at Perperikon were jeopardized by uncertainty over government funding. At the time, Assen Vassilev was Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister. The Culture Ministry said BGN 3 million had been allocated for archaeological fieldwork through a competitive scheme covering more than 150 projects, while additional priority funding for major sites such as Perperikon was to be subject to separate rules and expert assessment.
Her remarks came after Prof. Nikolay Ovcharov, the leader of the archaeological excavations, handed her a written proposal calling for continued funding for the five priority archaeological sites that receive annual state funding for excavations. The document was submitted at the request of the directors of the regional museums responsible for the areas where the sites are located.
The head of State visited Perperikon to see the latest discoveries at the ancient rock city. She said the site needs greater promotion and visibility. Iotova added that there is no other archaeological site like Perperikon in Europe and said Ovcharov should explain “why this place was always chosen for religious cults”.
Accompanied by Kardzhali Regional Governor Biser Nikolov, Deputy Regional Governor Georgi Yanev and MP Emine Gyulestan, the President toured the archaeological site.
Among the finds presented to her by Prof. Ovcharov was the latest discovery – a massive stone sarcophagus in a rotunda-type stone mausoleum dating from the Late Roman period. President Iotova Vows to Prevent Archaeology Funding from Being Frozen Again 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-08-04 11:03:00 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