The Silistra Uprising: Wind Turbines, Conflict of Interest, and Civil Disobedience

A large public scandal has erupted in Silistra, pitting the local government and corporate interests against citizens, farmers, and environmentalists. At the heart of the conflict is an investment proposal to build a wind farm with 43 massive turbines on the fertile land of Dobrudzha — a plan that triggered mass protests, accusations of severe corruption, and a collapse of the legally required public-hearing procedures.

The Scheme: “Green Energy” on Golden Land

The project envisions installing 300-meter wind turbines in close proximity to the city and nearby villages. Critics of the initiative, led by public figures such as Ivan Hristanov and lawyer Kalchev, argue that the real goal is not energy efficiency but accessing state and EU subsidies by destroying agricultural land of first to fourth category.

According to protesters, investors come to Bulgaria to exploit the land for free and receive guaranteed purchase prices for the electricity, while the local population bears the consequences. Hristanov emphasizes that such projects should be built on degraded territories, not on the most fertile soils in Europe, which are crucial for food security.

Conflict of Interest: The Mayor’s Family Business

The core tension stems from revelations about a direct link between Silistra’s mayor, Aleksandar Sabanov, and the investment project. The lands designated for the wind turbines are owned by the company “Dobrudzhan Land,” in which the mayor’s father, Nikolay Sabanov, holds a majority stake (51%).

The timeline of events shows that as early as 2023, the mayor and his relatives authorized Filip Georgiev to submit the investment proposal on behalf of the company that owns the land. Later, in his capacity as mayor, Sabanov was accused of pushing the interests of the private investor (linked to companies associated with Ivo Prokopiev, such as “Renafa” and “Eura Energy”) through the municipal administration. Citizens demand the mayor’s immediate resignation, arguing that he acts in private interest rather than protecting the public good.

The Collapse of the Public Hearing

Tensions peaked during the official public hearing, which unfolded amidst scandal and ended in boycott. Citizens and legal experts in the room revealed that the event’s moderator — Filip Georgiev — was in a severe conflict of interest. It turned out that he had been authorized simultaneously by the mayor (to conduct the procedure for amending the general development plan) and by the private investor “Eura Energy” (to represent it and sign contracts).

Lawyer Daniela Stoyanova presented legal arguments showing that delegating the mayor’s powers to a private individual is null and void under the law, as only a deputy mayor may carry out such functions. Attendees described the situation as a “theater of the absurd,” in which the municipality had abdicated its duty to defend the public interest and handed its authority directly to the investor. As a result, citizens refused to legitimize the procedure and walked out.

Health and Environmental Risks

During the discussions, alarming data were presented regarding the impact of wind turbines on human health and nature. Dr. Nikolova shared scientific evidence on the harmful effects of infrasound and low-frequency vibrations generated by the turbines. According to her, they may cause:

• Cardiovascular problems and heart attacks due to resonance with heart-rate frequency.
• Vibration disease and damage to internal organs.
• Chronic stress, insomnia, and autoimmune disorders.
• Cellular-level damage and effects on DNA and protein synthesis.

Environmentalists and hunters warned that the area lies along the bird migration route Via Pontica and is close to the “Srebarna” biosphere reserve. They cautioned that the turbines would destroy populations of rare bird species (such as pelicans) and bee colonies, as has already happened in other parts of Dobrudzha, including Cape Kaliakra and Shabla.

Civic Mobilization and Media Blackout

The protest in Silistra united farmers, beekeepers, hunters, and ordinary citizens who declared readiness for strikes and blockades. Participants expressed strong outrage at the lack of coverage by major national TV networks, which they attribute to media comfort for the oligarchic circles behind the project.

Despite attempts to downplay the events, citizens insist they will not allow Silistra to be turned into a depopulated industrial zone and demand a local referendum so that the population itself can decide the fate of its land.

This article is based on documentary recordings from the protests and public hearings in the city of Silistra.