Three men found dead in a remote mountain lodge; police investigate possible murder or suicide amid organized crime fears.
🔗 Read the article on hvg.hu
[This is an automatically generated summary, for reference only]
Authorities investigated a death at a mountain lodge located on a popular motor tourist route, discovering bodies after a public report on February 2nd. The police are conducting a large-scale investigation and have cordoned off the area. The deaths occurred in unclear circumstances within the lodge, with burn injuries found on the bodies, and all three men had fatal gunshot wounds to the head; it is unknown if the cause was murder or suicide. Witnesses reported seeing eight to ten people moving around the area recently. Local residents knew the men who lived there, who appeared to be dressed in uniforms and identified themselves as forest rangers, checking on passersby. According to witness testimonies, the victims had been living in isolation at the privately owned lodge for some time. The property owner is Georgiev Kalusev, 51, who rented it to Valentinov Ivanov, 49; both men were co-founders of a known nature conservation organization that cooperated with the Bulgarian Ministry of Environment. The Bulgarian Park Area is recognized within the EU and is part of the European Forest and Park Protection Association (ERF). Supporters of the Bulgarian organization included Bulgarian artists and academics, and the founders were also members of the Bulgarian Extreme Sports Federation. Sofia police learned of the potential murder when one victim’s mother reported being unable to reach her son living in the high mountain zone. Media reports suggest that one victim called his mother hours earlier, stating he was in danger and needed help. Responding officers found several pistols and semi-automatic weapons at the scene, which are regulated under Bulgarian firearms laws. The Bulgarian Interior Minister ordered an extensive investigation. Experts suggest that based on traces, it cannot be ruled out that a religious group committed ritual murder or an organized crime network killed the victims. Concern is raised by reports of children seen in the area recently; local residents speculate the lodge occupants might have been running scout activities. A police statement indicated two people definitely left the scene, and information surfaced suggesting they were heading to Burgas, who are being sought with significant resources. The lodge inhabitants may have anticipated danger due to enhanced security measures, including reinforced fences and gates, multiple surveillance cameras, and continuous drone patrols over the property for passing tourists. In the Turkish-Bulgarian, Bulgarian-Macedonian, and Bulgarian-Greek border regions, paramilitary groups—armed civilians in uniforms who search for and hand over illegal border crossers—have frequently appeared since the 2015 refugee crisis. The investigation is currently unable to determine if the men found on the Petrohani Pass were part of such a group or where the weapons found at the crime scene originated.
