"Progressive Bulgaria": Mafia model behind "Baba Alino" and cash flows from Dubai

29.06.2026 | Bulgaria

Gen. Rumen Milanov from "Progressive Bulgaria" claims that "Baba Alino" is an organized mafia scheme with international participation and cash flows from Dubai, and insists on clarity regarding the case of Oleg Nevzorov and reform in the SJC.

Снимка от Unknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.5 bg)

The scandal surrounding the illegal construction in "Baba Alino" is taking on new dimensions after "Progressive Bulgaria" announced that a clear picture of the scale and nature of the scheme is now emerging. Member of Parliament Gen. "Rumen Milanov" stated on bTV that "the puzzle for 'Baba Alino' is starting to come together," and behind it, an "organized mafia structure" is visible.

According to him, the problem lies not only in the illegal construction but also in the way the projects were planned and implemented. "From the point of view of urban planning, questions arise as to whether there is a general development plan or a detailed development plan. The big question is where the funds for financing the illegal city came from," emphasized Milanov.

He pointed out that the origin of the money is already being partially clarified. "The 'Baba Alino' puzzle is starting to come together because it is clear that this is an organized mafia structure... The big question is where the funds for financing the illegal city came from," the MP said, adding that according to available information, "a small part of the cash flows for 'Baba Alino' came from Dubai." According to him, this is where the "key moment" lies, and a "team approach" between institutions is necessary to resolve the problem.

Gen. Milanov also commented on the case of "Oleg Nevzorov," for whom DANS initially issued an expulsion order from the country, only to revoke it days later. According to him, there is already "some clarity" as to why this reversal occurred. "I say 'some' because a hearing of "Denyo Denev" in the committee is forthcoming. The data he will present will undoubtedly be very important," Milanov indicated.

He clarified that most of the information surrounding "Baba Alino" and Nevzorov will most likely fall into the sphere of classified information. "It is important that the standing committee, which was created for this very purpose, has clarity on these problems. It is likely they will not gain broad publicity," the general commented, thereby outlining the boundary between institutional knowledge and public visibility.

Milanov was adamant that there was a serious lapse in oversight. "Someone slept through 'Baba Alino' and must be found," he declared. According to him, "there is undoubtedly participation by an international scheme involving Ukrainian organized crime," but it remains to be clarified "exactly how the connections between them were made" – a process he describes as "the next complex process that must be uncovered."

The general placed the "Baba Alino" case in the wider context of the country's political-economic model. According to him, "the 'Borisov-Peevski' model cannot be dismantled because it has become a style of behavior." "The corruption scheme and the model of collecting money in a dishonest and illegal way have become a style of behavior. The first steps in this direction have been taken in the field of the judiciary," the MP pointed out.

Rumen Milanov stated that "Progressive Bulgaria" has the ambition to oppose this model. He vowed that the party would "control the hand that tries to take" and "will not offer its own to the gray economy." Thus, he outlined a political line of refusing compromise with illegal and semi-legal economic practices.

In the context of reforms in the judicial system, Gen. Milanov emphasized that it is crucial to ensure broad parliamentary support. "Regardless of whether the support comes from "GERB", "DPS", "We Continue the Change" or "Democratic Bulgaria", it is important to have 160 votes to change the "Supreme Judicial Council"," he declared. According to him, the change in the SJC is one of the conditions for truly dismantling established corruption models.

Thus, the "Baba Alino" case becomes not only a matter of illegal construction and international financial flows, but also a symbol of deeper problems – from mafia structures and missed oversight to the need for judicial reform and political will to fight corruption. The answers that the services and the committee are yet to provide will likely remain partially hidden, but they will be decisive for the next steps of those in power.