Councilors insist that the Municipality of Veliko Tarnovo take back the former Auditor’s Office in front of Tsarevets

The Ministry of Culture insists on a fine of up to BGN 30,000 for its unscrupulous owners

MINISTRY OF CULTURE PASSES FOR A SANCTION OF UP TO 30 THOUSAND. LV. TO THE OWNERS OF THE FORMER AUDIT HOUSE AND DISTRICT PEOPLE’S COUNCIL IN VELIKO TARNOVO.

The emblematic building on Tsar Ivan Asen Square, directly opposite Tsarevets, has been left to its own devices. The topic was raised once again by the municipal councilor from “BSP for Bulgaria” Valeria-Tereza Doncheva, who asked a special question about the fate of the site. According to the mayor, Daniel Panov, the administration notified and drew up prescriptions repeatedly to the owners of the property – Pension Insurance Company “Consent”, but so far not a single prescription has been implemented.

Since the object has the status of a cultural monument, which is why it is exempt from taxes, it falls under the jurisdiction of the Law on Cultural Heritage. In Art. 71 par. 1 of it states that the fine for a company that fails to fulfill its maintenance obligations is up to BGN 30,000. The procedure is under the authority of the Ministry of Culture, explained Panov, and added that he hopes the law will be changed in order to make stricter rules for the protection of cultural monuments and sanctions against unscrupulous owners or users.

Municipal councilors are united around the idea that the Municipality of V. Tarnovo should start negotiations for the purchase or replacement of the emblematic building, which will be turned into a museum.

Concrete steps and decisions in this direction are expected at the next meeting of the local parliament in May, it became clear after Valeria-Tereza Doncheva’s questioning.

The councilor also showed striking footage showing the condition of one of the most beautiful buildings in the old capital, built in one year in the period 1910-1911 according to the project of arch. Georgi Kozarov. The object is also the first public building with steam heating, and its decorative elements are the work of the famous Leon Filipov.

The building of the bivia court was sold in 2005 to Georgi Valev, who is serving a life sentence in the “Killers” case.

The businessman intended to turn it into a five-star hotel named after Tsar Kaloyan. An investigation of “Borba” later showed how he managed to sell it while he was in custody, and with a profit of nearly a million. Buying it from the Municipality of V. Tarnovo for 1.4 million, he receives back 2.3 million from the company “EON”. Subsequently, a new resale follows, and the last owner is “Saglasie”, which counts nearly BGN 3 million.

Whether the pension insurance company will bow to the cultural heritage and Veliko Tarnovo and agree to replace or sell the building at a reasonable price will become clear very soon.

Stilyan Naidenov

Sn. Miryan Kolev