The Minister of Regional Development and Public Works, Ivan Shishkov, has uncovered serious abuses in the Municipality of Varna. According to him, 42 certificates of tolerance for buildings turned out to be forged after being verified through orthophoto maps.

Large-scale illegal construction scheme

"They have been allowed to build illegally on a massive scale and to issue illegal certificates of tolerance. Obviously, the mechanism has been operating since 2023," stated Minister Shishkov.

The inspections cover over 800 documents, and there are serious suspicions regarding sites that do not appear on the cadastral maps. Particularly alarming is the case in the Baba Alino locality, where illegal construction of electrical substations was identified, powering buildings without the necessary occupancy permits.

Key measures and consequences:

  • Personnel changes: The director of the Geodesy, Cartography, and Cadastre Agency (SGKK) in Varna has been dismissed.
  • Inspections: Explanations have been requested from ViK Varna (Water and Sewerage) and the electricity distribution companies.
  • DNK (Directorate for National Construction Control) and Municipality: The Minister pointed out that construction control is the primary responsibility of the Municipality, while DNK becomes involved when reports are received.

According to Shishkov, the "Baba Alino" case is just the tip of the iceberg and is becoming an emblem of a corrupt practice widespread throughout the entire Varna municipality. The state is launching a full audit of the issued documents to determine the scale of the violations of the Spatial Development Act.