Three men were found murdered near Petrohani Pass; investigation reveals links to an unofficial paramilitary group.
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The Bulgarian prosecutor announced details regarding three murders committed at Petrohani Pass. Three unidentified men were found dead on January 2nd near an isolated guesthouse on a popular motor route, all with gunshot wounds to the head. The initial theories suggested either cult suicide or mafia retribution. However, the prosecutor revealed that the victims were members of an organization registered as “National Agency for Monitoring Protected Areas,” which was actually a non-state civil group collaborating informally with the Bulgarian Ministry of Nature Conservation, despite participating in state tenders and organizing children’s camps. Witnesses claimed these civilians acted paramilitarily, carrying weapons and intimidating hikers. The prosecutor stated that documents showed evidence of abuse, harassment, and sexual assault against children at the camps, but investigations were hampered by parents who allegedly sabotaged data collection and supported the supposed perpetrators. Despite official denials from figures like Sofia’s mayor, who defended the group’s work against poachers and migrants, the prosecutor emphasized the need for a thorough investigation into what occurred in the Petrohani forests. The text also notes that paramilitary groups operating along Bulgaria’s borders have been active since 2015, suggesting state security is delegating tasks to these illegal formations.
