What to Know So Far about Petrohan Case: Timeline

Marin Kolev, Lyubomir Gigov

First responders heading for a lodge near the Petrohan Pass after an emergency call about three dead bodies found in the area, February 2, 2026 (BTA Photo/Tsvetomir Tsvetkov)

Sofia,

09.02.2026 21:53

(BTA)

Following is a timeline of key developments in connection with six violent deaths that occurred between February 1 and 8 in Northwestern Bulgaria:

February 2: Three men are found dead near a privately owned lodge at the Petrohan Pass (Northwestern Bulgaria). Three more are wanted as missing. All six are members of a non-governmental organization active in nature and wildlife protection. Later in the day, Sofia District Prosecutor Hristina Lulcheva tells the media that the lodge had been set on fire.

February 3: Chief Commissioner Zahari Vaskov, Director of the National Police General Directorate, says that the three had been shot and have no criminal record. In 2022 their organization had been commissioned by the Ministry of Environment and Water to protect nature in the area. The involvement of minors with the organization is being checked.

February 3: Former environment and water minister (2021-2022) Borislav Sandov tells Bulgarian National Radio that a framework agreement was concluded with the National Protected Areas Control Agency but it did not give rise to any rights or obligations for the Ministry or for that association. "It's like shaking hands in front of the cameras and pledging to protect nature together," Sandov says. In his words, the agreement does not usurp any functions of government agencies and does not have a financial element.

February 4: Acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov says that Ivaylo Kalushev is wanted in connection with the Petrohan case. He may well be deceased, too, considering that a message he sent to his mother suggests that he tried to take his own life. State Agency for National Security (SANS) acting Chair Denyo Denev says that two years ago SANS, responding to an alert from a member of the public, conducted a check into the activity of the non-governmental organization.

February 5: Outgoing Interior Minister Daniel Mitov orders a check into allegations reported in the news media and on the internet about alerts submitted in connection with the activities of the National Protected Areas Control Agency. "The way the relevant competent entities of the Interior Ministry handled these allegations will be investigated and analyzed," Mitov says.

February 8: The three missing men wanted in connection with the Petrohan case are found shot dead in a camper van near Okolchitsa Peak (Western Balkan Range), Chief Commissioner Vaskov tells a news briefing. It has been established that shots were fired inside the vehicle and at this stage there are no clues of any shooting outside. Weapons have been found at the scene.

February 9: Interior Ministry and prosecution service officials brief the media on the progress of the investigation into the six violent deaths. The leads that the investigators prioritize are homicide succeeded by suicide or suicide only. The gunshot wounds to the head, of which all three found at the Petrohan Pass lodge had died, were apparently self-inflicted, either point-blank or at close range. DNA traces detected on the firearms found with the deceased near the Petrohan lodge belong only to the deceased individuals. The bodies near Petrohan were found within 24 hours of the death, while the time of death of those found near the Okolchitsa Peak has yet to be determined. No illegal items or substances were discovered in the lodge. So far, 18 forensic examinations have been ordered and 15 witnesses have been questioned in the case. At the news conference, journalists are shown video footage from cameras in front of the Petrohan lodge, timed between 10 a.m. and 8:40 p.m. on February 1. Some of the deceased can be seen there talking, bidding farewell to the head of the NGO, and setting fire to part of the building after the rest have left in the camper van. The head of the organization is detected on four cameras en route from a village near Montana to the approach to the Okolchitsa Peak.

/КТ/