Български
EnglishIn an investigation of his, Yordan Mitsikulev reveals shocking facts about a covered-up ecological crime and suspicions of a deliberate mass poisoning of hundreds of people in Galabovo municipality.
Ecological Crisis at the Dermenka Dam
The saga begins with a report of a massive fish die-off in the Dermenka dam, which is located above the village of Madrets. The dam wall and the spillway have not been maintained for years, and a damaged outlet valve contributed to the overflow and the subsequent ecological crisis. The water flooded grasslands and released toxic materials that killed the fish.
Days before the institutional inspections, local individuals made an attempt to cover up the crime. Tons of dead and rotting fish were transported away using vans and excavators, and then buried in deep trenches converted into mass graves in the immediate vicinity of the river. The investigator personally found the locations with the buried mass, from which an unbearable smell of carrion emanated, and filmed decomposed fish up to one meter long.
The poison from the rotting biological mass seeps directly into the riverbed, and from there into the region's drinking water. A municipal building is also located on the territory of the dam; it is officially listed as an agricultural structure but in practice is equipped with a terrace and used unofficially by mayors as a party zone. After submitting official reports to the regional administration, the prosecutor's office, the police, RIOEW, and the Basin Directorate, the competent authorities carried out an inspection but failed to establish the problem on site.
The Celebration in Iskritsa and the Toxicological Crisis
Exactly a week after this incident, on June 26 at 6:00 PM, a celebration was held on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the community center in the village of Iskritsa. Over 200 people attended the event, and a day later, between 150 and 200 of them were urgently admitted to the toxicological wards of hospitals in the region with severe poisoning. Ambulances were unable to keep up with transporting all the affected people.
One of the most severely affected patients, who is fighting for his life, is the mayor of the village of Madrets, Mr. Shikov. According to the investigator, it was he who managed the Dermenka dam unofficially and without a contract, investing personal funds into stocking it with fish. Subsequently, he was removed from the water body, and his investment was misappropriated on a silver platter.
Hypotheses Regarding the Causes of the Poisoning
Two main hypotheses are circulating in the public sphere regarding the causes that led to the mass poisoning of the celebration guests.
| Hypothesis | Description of the Possible Cause |
|---|---|
| Contaminated drinking water | The poisoning is a direct consequence of the ecological disaster involving the buried dead fish, whose poison penetrated the drinking water of the villages. |
| Food poisoning | The culprit for the crisis is the food served by the catering company at the banquet, and more specifically the portions of steaks with mushroom sauce. |
Responsibility and Suspicions of Intent
Mitsikulev draws special attention to the behavior of the mayor of Galabovo municipality, Nikolay Tonev, who was the main organizer of the banquet and personally cut the expensive celebratory cake. Tonev and his close associates deliberately consumed completely different food from that of the other attendees, which is why they are completely healthy and show no symptoms of poisoning.
The author is categorical that Mayor Tonev bears full responsibility for the tragedy, regardless of which of the two hypotheses turns out to be true. If the people were poisoned by the water, the dam is entirely municipal property and under his direct management, and if the problem lies with the food – he is again responsible in his capacity as the organizer of the event.
Local residents also share motives for a possible deliberate action, given that the village population did not support the mayor's party in the last elections. In addition, the journalist reveals that Tonev is waging seven or eight lawsuits against people shedding light on his questionable actions. Within these legal proceedings, the mayor himself has provided medical evaluations for a severe psychological disorder, high anxiety, and insomnia, which places serious doubt on his emotional stability.
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