Three men found dead at a remote mountain lodge near Bulgaria’s Petrohan Pass were members of a paramilitary-style environmental ranger organisation, Bulgarian media reported on Wednesday, as authorities investigated whether the deaths were the result of a crime, an accident or suicide.
The bodies of the men, aged 45, 49 and 51, were discovered near a burned lodge in the Gintsi area of Godech municipality, about 20 km (12 miles) northwest of Sofia, broadcaster bTV reported. All three were members of the National Agency for Control of Protected Areas (NAKZT), a non-governmental organisation registered in 2022.
NAKZT has described itself as a ranger service focused on mountain patrols, environmental protection and training operations in Bulgaria’s western Stara Planina and Pre-Balkan regions. The group has cooperated with European and international institutions and operated from the Petrohan lodge, which served as a high-altitude training and operational base.
Authorities said the men were found with gunshot wounds, and weapons including pistols, a carbine and ammunition were recovered at the scene. Damage from a fire was also reported at the lodge. Investigators are examining several scenarios, including homicide, accidental death and suicide, officials said.
The lodge is located close to the Serbian border, raising questions about possible cross-border elements, although authorities have not confirmed any foreign involvement.
Initial responders included officers from Bulgaria’s State Agency for National Security (SANS), followed by police, forensic teams and fire services from Sofia and the surrounding region, local officials said. Godech Mayor Georgi Todorov said the lodge had been secured with fences, cameras and surveillance equipment.
Residents described the men as experienced mountaineers who had lived at the lodge for extended periods. One of them was the main tenant, although the property was owned by another associate, local officials said.
NAKZT’s activities, including the use of drones, all-terrain vehicles and aerial surveillance systems, have previously drawn public attention and criticism. The organisation signed a cooperation agreement with the Environment Ministry during the previous government, granting it a role in environmental monitoring.
The Interior Ministry and prosecutors have not released further details, citing the ongoing investigation. Former acting Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev criticised authorities for what he described as a slow flow of public information.
Investigators are reviewing communications data, security footage and the events leading up to the fire and the deaths. Officials said the investigation remains active.