Bulgarian authorities have released surveillance footage and preliminary findings related to a series of deaths near the former Petrohan lodge and the Okolchitsa peak, indicating three apparent suicides at Petrohan and a combination of murder and suicide at Okolchitsa. The findings were presented at a joint press briefing by the Prosecutor’s Office and the Ministry of Interior on February 18, 2026.
According to Prosecutor Natalia Nikolova, evidence currently suggests three individuals died by suicide at Petrohan, whereas at Okolchitsa, two were murdered and one took their own life. “The evidence to date indicates that at Petrohan, we are dealing with three suicides, and at Okolchitsa – one murder and two suicides,” Nikolova stated during the briefing. She described the case as “shocking” and “extremely complex,” adding that investigators are working to establish the facts, motives, and a complete picture of the events.
The Ministry of Interior (MVR) has been actively investigating connections to the former Petrohan lodge, as reported on February 6, 2026, though details were initially not widely disseminated to the media. The investigation gained public attention following comments by caver Yani Makulev, who revealed that his 15-year-old son was acquainted with the owner of the former lodge, who is currently under investigation.
Surveillance footage from the Petrohan area confirms the presence of Plamen, Decho, and Ivalo on the night of the incidents. Authorities stated that no other individuals were present at the lodge during that time. Investigators are focusing on establishing the sequence of events and the relationships between the individuals involved.
The case has prompted a review of permits issued for firearms to Ivalo Kalushev and his associates, with scrutiny falling on the roles of former Interior Ministers Boyko Rashkov and Kalin Stoyanov. The investigation is attempting to determine if any irregularities occurred in the issuance of these permits.
Nikolova emphasized the intensity of the investigation, stating that teams from the MVR have been working “intensively for two weeks” on the cases. “We want to place all the pieces of the puzzle together – to state the facts, the motives,” she said. She acknowledged the public’s need for answers and expressed her own concern over the unfolding details, describing the case as the most complex she has encountered.
The MVR released hundreds of video clips from the Petrohan lodge, but the specific content and implications of these recordings are still under analysis. The investigation continues, with authorities seeking to clarify the motives behind the deaths and any potential connections between the incidents at Petrohan and Okolchitsa.