site.btaDaniel Mitov Defends Silence on “Petrohan” Case, Warns of NGO “Parallel State”

“I deliberately did not speak about the ‘Petrohan’ case when I was Minister of Interior,” said GERB-UDF MP Daniel Mitov to reporters. “It is not appropriate for a Minister of Interior to comment on details of an ongoing investigation of this magnitude. The first thing the opposition would have done is accuse me of politicizing the case or predetermining its outcome.”

What has been dubbed the "Petrohan case" refers to 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.

Mitov added: “I would rather be accused of hiding than of the other. This is not hiding – at that time I could only say that all versions were being investigated, and once the facts and circumstances became clear, the professionals should speak – that is exactly what happened.”

According to Mitov, caretaker Interior Minister Emil Dechev is also not speaking in detail, which is the right thing to do. A minister should not go into specifics of a case during an ongoing investigation, because the investigation itself continues. Facts can be released once the prosecution office decides, he said. Mitov stressed that information should only be provided after the circumstances are fully clarified.

“What worries me about this case is the system that is emerging,” Mitov said. “A network of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) linked to a particular political party or coalition - Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria - when in power, protects certain NGOs, integrates them into the state apparatus, delegates state functions to them, and provides protection.”

He explained: “The scheme is simple – a network of NGOs supported by a political party is created, which leads to a ‘parallel NGO state.’ When any signals or complaints arise against it, the other NGOs immediately intervene and mutual protection begins.”