The latest tree cutting in Stara Zagora has sparked public outrage. Citizens have demanded an explanation from local authorities about whether the felling to clear land in a private property designated for high-rise construction is legal, and why perfectly healthy trees are being removed.
The local administration ordered an inspection to determine whether the already cut trees were included in the phytosanitary assessment and whether it reflects the actual state of the vegetation on the site. In a statement to “Za Istinata” on August 17, Mayor Zhivko Todorov acknowledged that “certain discrepancies” had been found.
The inspection report could serve as grounds for the mayor to revoke the permit for tree removal, which would automatically mean that
the construction permit would also be annulled.
The ongoing felling is taking place on a little over 2 decares of land on the territory of the former military hospital in the city, owned by Mariyan Draganov, who has a sole proprietorship “Ezaro” with a registered capital of 2 leva. In addition to him, parcels within the 18-decare site have been purchased by Georgi Delchev, Anton Ivanov, and Nikolay Andonov—all sole traders, according to records in the “Apsis” system.
The permit for the tree removal on Draganov’s property was signed by Deputy Mayor Yancho Kaloyanov, to whom Zhivko Todorov has delegated his rights.
A fitoosanitary assessment of the tree species on the property was prepared by landscape architect Galina Nikolova. It describes 33 large-sized coniferous and broadleaf trees, for which “evidently, appropriate maintenance has not been provided for the last 10-15 years,” notes Nikolova in her expertise. She points out that the cypress, poplar, chestnut, and ash trees are covered with ivy, which has led to the drying of branches and a decline in their decorative qualities—”a prerequisite for their removal in the case of future construction.” We called the landscape architect to ask who maintains trees that are 40 years or older, how this is done in a park environment, and whether she would recommend that all trees in Ayazmoto, for example, which are covered with ivy, be cut down.
However, before we could start the actual conversation, she decisively stated:
“I have nothing to tell you! Don’t call me again, the conversations are being recorded,”
and hung up. Galina Nikolova also stated that she is a very busy person. A check in the Trade Register shows that as a sole trader, she also operates wedding celebration venues. Mariyan Draganov, who started cutting down perfectly healthy trees on his property, also refused to comment on the matter, having thus destroyed the existing ecosystem in and under their canopies.
According to eyewitness accounts, the cutting down of three cypress trees and three poplars was carried out in the private property with the participation of Nikolai Stoev, the head of the landscaping department in the Municipality of Stara Zagora. When asked whether this really happened and whether municipal equipment and machinery were used, as well as whether payment was made for the service, the mayor of Stara Zagora assured that the case would be investigated, and if the citizens’ complaints are confirmed, the responsible parties would be held accountable. However, this explanation is not enough.
What is more important is
who ordered the head of “Landscaping and Municipal Activities” to carry out tree felling in a private property in front of numerous citizens?
In fact is unlikely that Stoev would have climbed the lift with a chainsaw in hand onto the property of the little-known Mariyan Draganov just for the sake of it and risk his career. An investigation of the facts and circumstances surrounding this situation reveals yet another flawed practice in the Municipality of Stara Zagora, where the names of Deputy Mayor Yancho Kaloyanov, former chief architect of the municipality Viktoria Grozeva, her husband Vladimir Georgiev, and his architectural studio “V&V Architects” resurface.
A little background:
The sold properties in the area of the former military hospital in Stara Zagora are part of a plot over 18 decares in size, owned by the Ministry of Defense (MoD). The land on which the hospital was built was intended for compensation to owners whose properties remained within the boundaries of “Bedechka” Park. However, the municipality had to obtain the land from the military department in exchange for equivalent land, which former Prime Minister Boyko Borisov promised in his typical style during one of his visits to Stara Zagora. However, a deal was never reached—according to Mayor Todorov, this was because the military department did not find the proposed lands by the municipality equivalent. The process of converting the land from public state property to public private property, dividing it into smaller parcels, and selling them during the term of regional governor Gergana Mikova involves numerous unclear circumstances.
For example:
What necessitated the sale of plots with established park infrastructure, how and when was their status changed to “Public Service,” and who submitted the proposal for this?
Experts indicate that changing the status can only occur with a modification of the Municipal General Development Plan (GDP) and subsequently of the detailed development plans (DDP).
In an interview with “Za Istinata,” Gergana Mikova explained that with the sale of the lands, she was relieved of the obligation to secure them, for which, as a secondary budget holder, she lacked the necessary funds. Such an explanation, of course, is not satisfactory from the perspective of public interest, but the issue is significant enough to warrant a separate investigation.
After purchasing the plots, the new owners commissioned the development of a DDP—Planning for Construction for the five urban plots in the neighborhood by architect Dragolyub Nakov, who registered his company “DN Architects” in 2021 while still part of the team at “V&V Architects” of Vladimir Georgiev. The indicators include a maximum height of 24 meters, maximum density and intensity of development, and minimal landscaping. The detailed development plan was approved by an order from January 3 of this year by Viktoria Grozeva in her capacity as the chief architect of the Stara Zagora municipality and accepted by the Expert Council on Territorial Development (ECTD).
Subsequently, Mariyan Draganov decided to divide his plot into two parts—one for the construction of a multi-family residential building and the other for a single-family house. The owner of the property now commissions a comprehensive project for an investment initiative—a procedure governed by the Spatial Development Act (ZUT), which is authorized by the mayor of the municipality and allows for faster construction with reduced oversight. The project is authored by architect Vladimir Georgiev.
The investment proposal has been submitted to the Regional Inspectorate for Environment and Water (RIEW) in Stara Zagora for approval. In the opinion of the environmental inspection, signed by its former director Ivaylina Staneva, it is stated that “the investment proposal is not subject to the legally regulated procedures for environmental assessment and environmental impact assessment (EIA).”
It is likely that the opinion was written based on the phytosanitary assessment by Galina Nikolova and without verifying whether the trees are in the condition described in her expertise and whether there are any protected tree species on the property, such as walnuts, for example. The fact that the RIEW opinion was sent to Mariyan Draganov but addressed to 75 Gospodin Mihailovski Street—the address of Vladimir Georgiev’s architectural firm “V&V Architects”—is also surprising. This suggests that architect Georgiev has most likely taken on commitments related to the execution of the investment proposal for the property owner.
This “error” and other circumstances surrounding this issue raise numerous questions related to
foreign interests hidden behind construction and real estate transactions.
Such a hypothesis makes it easy to explain why Deputy Mayor Yancho Kaloyanov signed the permit for the removal of perfectly healthy trees, as well as why the phytosanitary assessment by Galina Nikolova passed without issue through the approval of three other landscape architects. It also clarifies why the head of the “Landscaping and Municipal Activities” department, Nikolai Stoev, conveniently performed high-cutting on Draganov’s property. However, this is no longer a matter for journalistic investigation.
