Bulgaria’s Petrohan Case: Interior Ministry Knew Location of Ivaylo Kalushev’s Camper

Investigations into the deaths of four individuals near Petrohan and Okolchitsa in Bulgaria have revealed that the Ministry of Interior was informed of the location of a camper van linked to Ivaylo Kalushev, head of the National Agency for Control of Protected Areas (NACPT), as early as February 3, 2026. This information surfaced as questions mount regarding the handling of the case and potential delays in locating Kalushev and others.

Timeline of Events and Key Findings

The case began on February 2, 2026, with the discovery of the bodies of Ivaylo Ivanov (49), Decho Vasilev (45), and Plamen Statev (51) near the Petrohan chalet. Initial investigations pointed to a missing camper van associated with Ivaylo Kalushev, Nikolay Zlatkov, and Alexander Makulev, who had left the area the previous day.

According to information obtained by BulNews agency, the Bulgarian representative office of Mercedes-Benz provided the Ministry of Interior with the GPS location of Kalushev’s camper on February 3rd. Investigators in Sofia had requested Mercedes-Benz to attempt to locate the vehicle using its GPS system following questioning of Deyan Iliev, as well known as “The Mexican.” The camper was pinpointed as being parked in the mountains above the village of Zgorigrad, in the Vratsa region.

Questions Raised Regarding the Investigation

The revelation that the Ministry of Interior knew the location of the camper van so early in the investigation has prompted several critical questions:

• Did investigators in Sofia share this location information with their colleagues in Vratsa? If not, why?
• If the Vratsa Ministry of Interior office was informed, why were they unable to locate the camper van?
• Was a search for Kalushev and his associates actively underway?
• Why wasn’t assistance sought from experienced mountaineers familiar with the Balkan terrain to access the location?
• Was a traffic camera check conducted on February 3rd, five days before the discovery of three additional bodies, and if not, why?

Further complicating the case, reports indicate that on February 8th, a coffin camper was discovered in the Okolchitsa region. The following day, local forensics determined the vehicle’s entry and exit times from Vratsa using traffic cameras, identifying a route towards Mount Vola.

Broader Investigation into NACPT

The Ministry of Interior has also been investigating the activities of the NACPT, founded by Ivaylo Kalushev. A report published on February 17, 2026, details signals and complaints filed against the organization since its establishment in 2022. Novinite reports that the investigation identified four reports concerning the NGO, including allegations of sexual abuse of minors and the production of pornographic materials.

The initial alert regarding the NACPT dates back to February 2, 2022, with a report filed in Berkovitsa concerning alleged vigilantism and threatening behavior by members of the organization, often referred to as “forest rangers.”

Ongoing Concerns and Distrust

The Petrohan case has fueled distrust in the authorities, with questions surrounding potential interference and a lack of decisive action. The investigation continues as authorities seek to uncover the full extent of the events and address the concerns raised by the public and media.