Bulgaria Investigates Firearms Permits and NGO Amidst Petrohan Lodge Deaths

A probe has been launched into the issuance of firearms permits following the discovery of six bodies in connection with the National Protected Areas Control Agency (NACPT) in Bulgaria. The case, centered around the Petrohan Pass area in western Bulgaria, has sparked national concern and raised questions about the NGO’s activities.

Timeline of Events

On February 2, 2026, three men – Ivaylo Ivanov, Plamen Statev and Decho Vasilev – were found dead near a partially burned-out lodge near the Petrohan Pass. A week later, on February 8, 2026, three more individuals – Ivaylo Kalushev, Nikolay Zlatkov, and a 15-year-vintage boy – were found deceased in a camper van at Okoltchica Peak, approximately 80 km from the initial crime scene. Investigators initially hypothesized four suicides and two murders.

The National Protected Areas Control Agency (NACPT)

Ivaylo Kalushev, the owner of the Petrohan lodge and head of the NACPT, has become a central figure in the investigation. The NACPT is a Bulgarian non-governmental organization. Acting Chief Prosecutor Borislav Sarafov has described the NGO’s activities as “unholy,” leading to speculation about the organization being a “sectarian network involved in pedophilia,” though these claims remain unverified. Kalushev was also described as a world-renowned speleologist and self-proclaimed spiritual leader.

Firearms Permits Under Scrutiny

Authorities are investigating how firearms permits were issued to individuals connected to the case. Ivaylo Ivanov was issued a permit on August 23, 2021, by the Police Precinct Department in Montana, authorizing him to possess 16 firearms, including five smoothbore shotguns and three rifled bore carbines. Ivaylo Kalushev received a permit on November 1, 2021, also from the Montana Police Precinct Department, for a Glock and a Colt pistol. Nikolay Zlatkov held a permit for a Heckler & Koch pistol, issued on February 24, 2023. A significant number of these weapons were found at the scene, though it remains to be determined if they correspond to the issued permits due to the fire damage.

Internal Affairs Investigation

The Ministry of Interior’s Inspectorate Directorate conducted a report on signals received since 2022 regarding the NACPT. The report revealed four prior reports concerning the NGO: a violation in an agreement between the Eco-Ministry and the NACPT, concerns about an 8-year-old child at risk, allegations of a religious group engaging in inappropriate behavior with children, and threats made by “Petrokhan Patrol Rangers” to tourists. The investigation found that police acted correctly in reporting these concerns to relevant institutions, though a file related to the ranger threats was missing from the regional administration, hindering a conclusive assessment.

Forensic Evidence

Preliminary ballistic findings indicated substantial gunpowder particles on Ivaylo Kalushev’s hands, with additional residue found on Nikolay Zlatkov’s palms. Further testing is being conducted on clothing recovered from Ivaylo Ivanov due to blood contamination.

Ongoing Investigations and Recommendations

The investigation has revealed disciplinary violations by employees of the Godech and GDBOP police departments, though disciplinary action is not possible due to the expiration of the statute of limitations. The director of the GDBOP has been instructed to improve documentation of operational actions, and the director of the ODMVR-Sofia has been directed to enhance document circulation procedures. The Ministry of Interior was aware that the NACPT representatives resided in the Petrohan hut and possessed a drone with a thermal imaging camera and winter vehicles, information shared by border officers and Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev in late 2023.