Varna Probe Finds Regional Administration Was Alerted in 2024.

An internal review by the Regional Administration in Varna has found that former Regional Governor Andriyana Andreeva was contacted by the city's Economic Police in November 2024. At the time, the Ministry of Interior requested the administration’s position regarding forest clearing and illegal construction in the area, Regional Governor Mario Smarkov said. Andreeva’s position was that no action was required from the state administration.

This week, two illegal drinking water boreholes were also discovered within the complex. The Regional Governor has already referred the case to the prosecution service, and an investigation is currently underway. Smarkov has also ordered a review into the legality of the electricity supply to the complex.

The Regional Governor of Varna stated that, at this stage, the case involving the illegal settlement cannot be described as state-backed protection because, according to the available documents, all actions were carried out at a regional level, BNT reported.

According to Smarkov, former Regional Governor Andriyana Andreeva did not take action on the case, arguing that it was outside her authority.

After reviewing these documents, I gained an understanding of how the Regional Governor responded to the signals submitted from 2023 to the present, he said.

At this point, there is still no such evidence, but, as I said, the inspection is ongoing. I had to react very quickly and request all documentation that the employees of the Regional Administration could provide at the time, given that a meeting of the Municipal Expert Council for Spatial Planning in Varna Municipality was scheduled for May 20, during which a detailed development plan for the area was to be reviewed, Smarkov added.