site.btaBurgas Environment Authority Chief Accused of Turning Blind Eye to Environmental Problems

Representatives of three parties - Middle European Class, the Green Movement, and Unity - are calling for the resignation of the head of the Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water (RIEW) in Burgas, Pavel Marinov. The demand was announced Wednesday by Unity regional coordinator Nikolay Kyuchukov, who said that since Marinov took office, the three parties have received numerous reports of irregularities, abuse of authority, and neglect of key environmental issues.

“We have information about lack of oversight, failure to act on complaints, and cover-ups of environmental problems. This is unacceptable for an institution whose mission is to protect nature and public health,” Kyuchukov said.
Among the most serious allegations are poor air quality monitoring in Burgas, arbitrary interpretation of environmental law, and failure to comply with orders and instructions from the Environment and Water Ministry.

One of the most alarming examples, Kyuchukov said, involves the clearing of over 30 decares of 50-year-old oak forest within two Natura 2000 protected zones. Despite plans to build a resort complex on the site, Marinov issued decision BS-113-EO/2025, ruling that no environmental impact assessment (EIA) was needed, arguing that the land was already “anthropogenically affected.” On October 20, 2025, the Environment Minister overturned that decision and ordered a mandatory EIA.

Kyuchukov also cited another controversial case — Marinov’s favorable opinion on an impact report concerning changes to Burgas’s General Development Plan, which would allow construction in protected coastal areas (Zones A and B) including the Fishermen’s Village, Rosenets Forest Park, and Sarafovo.

In 2025, a tender was held for a Boat Tour on the Ropotamo River tourist service. The terms required the use of electric boats, yet Marinov signed a contract with a company operating boats with internal combustion engines, which are strictly banned in the Ropotamo Reserve. The Ministry also received reports of construction machinery entering and leveling terrain in the protected area. Despite ministry orders, no inspections were carried out by the Burgas RIEW, which the organizations say is further proof of deliberate inaction.

Based on these and other alleged violations, the three parties have given Pavel Marinov one week to resign. If he fails to do so, they will demand that the Minister of Environment and Water dismiss him immediately. Otherwise, the organizations warned, they will launch protest actions.

In a related development, the Environment and Water Ministry said Thursday that Minister Manol Genov has overturned a decision by Burgas Environment Inspectorate Director, Pavel Marinov, that allowed a major development project near the protected Ropotamo area to proceed without an environmental assessment. The project, submitted by Arkutino Friends Ltd., concerns amendments to the detailed zoning plan for properties in the Alepu area near Sozopol. 

According to the ministry, Marinov’s August 8 ruling concluded that no environmental impact assessment was necessary and that the plan would not significantly affect the nearby Natura 2000 protected zones “Ropotamo” and “Ropotamo Complex.” The minister found, however, that the case file contained contradictory information and lacked sufficient evidence to evaluate the potential impacts on these protected areas. The procedure has been sent back to the Burgas inspectorate for review.