The "Baba Alino" Scandal: Portnih vs. Kotsev

Former Varna mayor and current municipal councilor from GERB, Ivan Portnih, has entered into a sharp conflict with the city's current administration regarding the case of the illegal settlement in the "Baba Alino" area. On air on BNT, he described the actions of Mayor Blagomir Kotsev as a "circus", aimed at diverting attention from real problems.

"The saga with the tolerance certificates is an attempt to shift responsibility, because these documents do not legalize construction," Portnih stated firmly.

Who is responsible?

  • Architect Buzev: Portnih reminded that he had fired the chief architect in 2023 due to similar cases, but Kotsev had reinstated him.
  • "Primorski" District: According to the former mayor, control over the territory falls directly under the duties of the district mayor from PP-DB, who remains in the shadows.
  • Actions in 2016: Portnih stated that he personally stopped a large-scale development plan for the same plots 8 years ago.

Portnih was adamant that during his term there were no reports of illegal logging or infrastructure activities in the area. He emphasized that the law requires illegal structures to be demolished, but the responsibility for enforcement lies with the current administration.