site.btaMinister Genov: Environment Ministers after Borislav Sandov Have Tried to End Agreement with NGO Linked to Petrohan Case

All environment ministers after Borislav Sandov have attempted to terminate the agreement with the National Protected Areas Control Agency (NPACA), said outgoing Minister of Environment and Water Manol Genov on Nova TV on Monday. He was commenting on the Petrohan case involving six violent deaths in Northwestern Bulgaria, with the deceased being linked to the NPACA nongovernmental organization.

In 2022, the Environment Ministry represented by Minister Sandov signed a framework agreement on environmental protection with the NGO. According to Sandov, the document did not create rights or obligations for either party and had no financial component. On June 26, 2025, the Environment Ministry terminated the agreement unilaterally after an internal audit found that the document had an unclear subject matter, lacked legal basis and procedure for its conclusion, as well as for the transfer of control functions over protected areas and territories to NGOs. The police and the prosecution service were notified of possible illegal activities.

Genov commented on Monday that it is no coincidence the NGO was registered under this name, and an explanation must be sought as to who insisted on this and when, because the term "national agency" is misleading. "Apart from this agreement, there is nothing else. It is in complete violation of all the rules of the Ministry of Environment and Water. I have never seen such agreements," Genov added.

According to him, the agreement creates no financial commitments. Inspections have been carried out and not a single alert by the NGO about a violation of environmental legislation has been found. Genov said that on Monday morning, the outgoing Minister of Agriculture told him that the NPACA has not submitted a single alert about illegal logging or illegal felling.