site.btaRussian Embassy Has No Legal Claim to Property within Sofia’s Protected Water Catchment Area, Says CC-DB MP Atanassov

The Russian Embassy has no legal basis to possess property located in the village of Dolni Pasarel, situated within Sofia’s protected water catchment area on the shore of Lake Iskar, Atanas Atanassov, Deputy Chair of the National Assembly of Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria coalition, Co-Chair of Democratic Bulgaria, and head of the Parliamentary Committee for Control of the Security Services, told reporters after a meeting of the Committee on Tuesday.

Atanassov said that the property is formally registered as state-owned. He emphasized that Sofia’s regional governor, as the official representative of the state, should act immediately to restore state control over the site.

During Tuesday’s Committee meeting, the acting Chair of the State Agency for National Security (SANS), Denyo Denev, was questioned about signs posted on the property reading “This site is under the control of the Russian Federation”.

Atanassov explained that although the property legally belongs to the Bulgarian state, SANS should issue a formal directive to the regional governor instructing the initiation of legal procedures for reclaiming the land. Asked why SANS needs to be involved, Atanassov clarified that identifying and addressing national security threats falls squarely within the agency’s mandate.

“Some Bulgarian institutions have been shockingly negligent in fulfilling their responsibilities. For more than three years now, Russia has officially designated Bulgaria as a hostile state. This property situated on the shore of Lake Iskar, Sofia’s primary water reservoir, has been managed by the Russian Federation since the 1970s. That is a direct threat to national security,” Atanassov warned.

He further revealed that the property contains two structures, previously used for recreation, which are still regularly visited by staff of the Russian Embassy. “This is not an abandoned plot in an open field, it is located right at the heart of Sofia’s water supply zone, beside the city’s largest reservoir. The risks are serious,” Atanassov concluded.