site.btaRumen Radev Calls Petrohan Murder Case "Political Shock and Sign of the Country's Condition"

Former President (2017-2026) Rumen Radev called the Petrohan murder case "a political shock and a sign of the country's condition", his press office said on Monday.

Three men were found shot dead in a privately owned lodge near Petrohan Pass in the Western Balkan Range on February 2. Two men and a 15-year-old boy, all of whom had occupied that property, were found dead with gunshot wounds in a camper van in a hard-to-reach mountain area on February 8.

Radev offered condolences to the bereaved families, stating: "I will not comment on this tragedy, which must be investigated by the competent authorities. The causes of these murders must be clarified as quickly as possible, because the public expects answers."

He stressed, however, that this tragedy should not overshadow what he called "alarming findings". He drew attention to the registration of an NGO styling itself  "National Protected Areas Control Agency" - a name suggesting it had the powers of a state body. According to Radev, it was legitimized by the Environment Ministry in clear violation of established administrative rules. He also referred to what he saw as arbitrary actions regarding land and natural resources, the accumulation of large quantities of weapons and specialized equipment, and the inability of law enforcement to uphold order and enforce the law despite repeated tipoffs.

"Petrohan has become a grim symbol of a broken state, unable to protect even its children. Our aim is to reclaim the state," he said.

Earlier on Monday, Sofia District Prosecutor Hristina Lulcheva said 18 forensic expert examinations had been ordered and 15 witnesses, including minors and victims' friends and relatives, had been questioned in the Petrohan case.