The Mechanism of the Infernal Machine: How the State Creates Fake “Sects” and “Paramilitary Groups”

Ivelin Mihaylov (Ивелин Михайлов) draws a parallel between the tragedy involving the discovered bodies at a mountain hut in Petrohan (Петрохан) and the long-standing attacks against Historical Park (Исторически парк). Society tends to trust the official media because it more easily accepts negative narratives than positive ones. Immediately after the incident, pseudo-journalists appeared in the public space, promoting versions convenient for those in power. Martin Karbovski (Мартин Карбовски) and Yavor Dachev (Явор Дачков) serve the interests of Boyko Borisov (Бойко Борисов) and Delyan Peevski (Делян Пеевски), despite presenting themselves as opposition voices. These figures have found a way to monetize their popularity by spreading malice and hatred. The authorities use the tragedy to impose false moral norms and divert attention from the real problems.

The “Paramilitary Organization” Label

The media describe a group of programmers with hobbies such as shooting and drones as a dangerous “paramilitary organization” or a “sect.” At the same time, real criminal bosses move around with convoys of armored vehicles and armed guards, yet no one labels them as such. Mihaylov defends people’s right to have interests, to be Buddhists, or to legally own weapons for sporting purposes. He rejects claims that ten people with drones could pose a threat to national security. State institutions do not protect the forests, so citizens take on this role themselves—yet instead of praise, they receive accusations.

The Beginning of the Attack: the “Capital” Circle

The problems for Historical Park (Исторически парк) began in 2019. Ivo Prokopiev (Иво Прокопиев) activated his media group against the project. The reason was Mihaylov’s refusal to seek financing through banks or the stock exchange, which are under the control of the oligarchy. Journalist Yoan Zapryanov (Йоан Запрянов) published a series of articles labeling the initiative a “pyramid scheme.” The Financial Supervision Commission (Комисия за финансов надзор, КФН) carried out an inspection and found no violations, as the activity was not subject to its regulation. Prokopiev’s media, however, claimed that the commission was covering up for Historical Park. This campaign caused severe reputational damage and made investors’ work difficult.

The “Private Village” Scenario and the Illegal Dump

In 2020, volunteers from the park stopped a truck illegally dumping construction waste near the village. The perpetrator contacted Georgi Andreev (Георги Андреев), a member of parliament from the Bulgarian Socialist Party – BSP (БСП). Andreev, in turn, filed a tip with the newspaper Capital (вестник „Капитал“). Yoan Zapryanov arrived on site and wrote an article titled “Private Village.” The piece portrayed local people as sectarians who worship the sun and perform strange rituals. In reality, this was a morning workout and cross-country run during the pandemic. The “witnesses” in the reports were local individuals with criminal records and drug addictions, who were paid or given drugs to spread falsehoods. The police refused to intervene despite reports of aggression by these individuals against park employees.

Floods and State Repression

That same year, criminal elements destroyed the river embankment to extract soil for a construction project in Varna (Варна). This caused large-scale flooding in the park and the village. Neither the state nor the municipality provided any assistance. People dealt with the damage, mud, and snakes on their own. Instead of support, institutions sent inspections. In 2021, the head of State Agency for National Security – Varna (ДАНС-Варна), Kiril Dimov (Кирил Димов), prepared a classified report. In it, he labeled the volunteers a “paramilitary organization” because they opposed the local mafia. State security persecutes law-abiding citizens instead of investigating organized criminal groups.

Wind Turbines and Political Confrontation

In 2022, the company SG Group, linked to local oligarchs, attempted to build a wind turbine park in the municipality of Vetrino (Ветрино). Mihaylov and the local community firmly opposed the project. This triggered a new wave of media attacks in Capital (Капитал) and the website Afera (Афера). Boyko Borisov personally summoned Mihaylov to a meeting and demanded an explanation for blocking a multimillion-euro project. The leader of GERB (ГЕРБ) acted in sync with Ivo Prokopiev, despite their public disputes. Threats of physical violence followed, including threats to break legs. The media published photos from an airsoft team and presented them as evidence of armed units.

Political Blackmail and the Ultimatum

Ivelin Mihaylov entered politics with the party Velichie (партия „Величие“) in order to protect his people. On June 10, 2024, he was offered millions of euros to support Delyan Peevski in parliament. He refused. This was followed by the creation of a temporary parliamentary commission to investigate Historical Park. The initiators were There Is Such a People (Има такъв народ) and Revival (Възраждане), parties that had previously supported the project. During the vote count, Mihaylov received a phone call with an ultimatum: either accept the offer, or his party would not enter parliament.

The Mall Meeting and the Involvement of the Anti-Corruption Commission

Officials from the Commission for Counteracting Corruption (Комисия за противодействие на корупцията, КПК) invited Mihaylov to a meeting in a shopping mall (the former Hemos (Хемус) / City Center (Сити център)) on level −2. There, they issued a direct condition: vote with Borisov and Peevski or go to prison. The agents claimed they had “evidence” and recordings of conversations involving his relatives. Mihaylov rejected the blackmail. He was threatened that “their person” would raise the issue publicly. Two days later, Radostin Vassilev (Радостин Василев) from the party MECh (МЕЧ) made a statement in parliament against Velichie. Arrests of park employees followed—exactly as promised by the blackmailers.

The Role of the MECh Party and the Pseudo-Opposition

Radostin Vassilev, Simon Milkov (Симон Милков), and Nikolay Markov (Николай Марков) act as executors of mafia orders. They are the tools used to destroy the image of inconvenient figures. The authorities use arrests and media noise to imply guilt even when there is no real evidence. The case against Historical Park contains 36 volumes of recordings of everyday conversations, yet it is presented as the exposure of a large-scale criminal scheme. Mihaylov claims that Boyko Borisov is more dangerous than Peevski because he skillfully hides behind other figures and media outlets.

A New Civic Organization

Ivelin Mihaylov announces the creation of a non-governmental organization – NGO (неправителствена организация, НПО) that will operate as an investigative body. Its goal is to collect evidence of abuses by those in power and to defend the victims of the system. The organization will unite more than 3,000 affected families and will oppose the state’s “infernal machine.” He calls on people not to trust Prokopiev’s official “fact-checkers,” but to seek the truth themselves. Only an organized civil society can stop repression and demand accountability for destroyed human lives.