Borislav Sandov to receive indictment over protected areas case

Bulgarian prosecutors are set to serve an indictment to former Minister of Environment and Water Borislav Sandov on Wednesday, September 30. The charges allege that Sandov exceeded his authority on February 8, 2022, by signing a framework cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Environment and Water and the non-governmental organization ‘National Agency for Control of Protected Areas,’ associated with Ivaylo Kalushev.

The prosecution claims this agreement granted the NGO control functions within protected territories in the Petrohan hut area. Sandov has responded to the summons, noting a discrepancy in the documentation which reportedly requires him to appear in 2025, despite the pre-trial proceedings having begun in 2023.

Sandov clarified that this specific case is unrelated to the separate investigation regarding the deaths of six individuals in the Petrohan and Okolchitsa region. He stated he intends to defend the legality of his actions and expressed hope for an objective court ruling.