Capital: Through powers and with the help of the state, Kovachki took over Malyovitsa – Bulgaria

© Anelia Nikolova

Hristo Kovachki took Malyovitsa through powers and with the help of the state. Plans for the development of the iconic Rila spa sound declarative, but there are fears that the mountain resort will change profile. Acquired through replacements in 2008, the forest land betrays intentions to build a large-scale ski resort. this is what the weekly “Capital” writes in its latest issue.

A reporter for the publication saw that in the soil of Mecha Polyana at the foot of Malyovitsa Peak in Rila a bulldozer was digging trenches, the lower branches of the pine trees were pruned and workers hung spotlights on them. Others are replacing the metal roof of the Central Mountain School (CPS) The publication reports that since November CPS – a unique place for Bulgaria for training guides, instructors, climbers, has a new owner. The Bulgarian Tourism Union has leased it for ten years to the company “Agro Land Management”, whose scope of activity includes activities with agricultural land, agricultural products, meat, planting material, agricultural machinery. According to the publication, the company is related to the energy businessman Hristo Kovachki, who a year ago through another related company – “VI Hunting”, re-rented to BTS and again for 10 years the nearby hotel “Malyovitsa”, as and trailers in the ski area.

Again during the summer, Kovachki took from the state for 15 years the Rila animal husbandry section, which covers the entire forest belt south of the villages of Beli Iskar, Madjare, Mala Tsarkva and Govedartsi to the limits of Rila park.

Once again, Kovachki controls the trailer and track under the Mechit hut, as well as the terrain next to the camp near the facility.

Although formally unrelated to the two companies, Kovachki, who lives in France most of the time, was spotted in the Malyovitsa area, and several Capital sources commented that he was the man behind the companies. The publication recalls that during the time of the triple coalition its companies made a series of exchanges with the state, since against the forests of northern Bulgaria they received plots in the Malyovishki part of Rila. Thus, Kovachki became the owner of the Malyovitsa slopes, as well as the land, the edges of which show that they are “prepared” for future ski slopes and clearings for lifts, and at its base, for residential construction. Illegal logging has been going on in some of these areas for years.

The lack of transparency throughout the process, the way the properties were acquired and the scope with which the entrepreneur acts are a sign that Malyovitsa may go the Bansko path: hidden owner, overdevelopment, environmental violations and an attempt to impose a monopoly, commented on the publication.

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