Text version Standard version   edoc@tourism.government.bg The Minister of Tourism Miroslav Borshosh and the Mayor of the Municipality of Samokov Eng Angel Djorgov discussed the opportunities for tourism development in the region The meeting aimed to strengthen the cooperation between the Ministry of Tourism and local authorities to promote tourism development in the country The Tourism Minister underlined the readiness of the Ministry to support initiatives that contribute to the development of a sustainable and competitive tourism product in the regions projects for year-round tourism can be implemented in addition to the well-known winter tourism which will strengthen the position of Samokov Municipality as one of the leading tourist destinations in Bulgaria," Miroslav Borshosh emphasized During the meeting key issues related to the promotion of the resorts of Borovets and Malyovitsa were discussed as well as the organization of festivals and events that attract tourists and contribute to the development of the local economy The Mayor of Samokov Municipality briefed the Minister on the planned initiatives of the municipality in the field of tourism and stressed the importance of this sector He expressed his gratitude to Minister Miroslav Borshosh for the support and said that the efforts of the municipality are aimed at promoting the region as an attractive destination in all seasons        Contacts:   Sofia 1000, 1 Saborna St.   phone.: +359 2 904 6809,   edoc@tourism.government.bg 2016 © Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Bulgaria a new motorsport project in Bulgaria was launched - the "Lara" track near Samokov which is expected to be completed by the end of the year is a private investment supported by “GBS Energy Solutions“ part of the Management Board of the Bulgarian Motorcycling Federation “We expect all of this to be built within this year We have developed a business plan that gives us a clear idea of what the return will be,” Zara Kiziryan The construction of the “Lara“ track is an important step for the development of motor sports in Bulgaria there is only one licensed track in our country and it is also currently undergoing renovation More news from Auto Valencia Basket men's team faces the tough challenge of trying to take advantage of the first of their two opportunities to close out the BKT EuroCup semifinals series against Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv (Friday 28th Movistar Deportes 3) in the second game of this series which will be played in Bulgaria but with around two thousand Israeli fans traveling to support their team After having the support of the Fonteta to win the game 1 by 91-82 Pedro Martínez's men will try to extend the positive aspects shown in that initial game and aim to improve their rhythm and accuracy in the three-point shooting against a rival that made things very uncomfortable for the Valencia team This will be the first time these two teams meet outside of the Fonteta with a fairly balanced record in Valencia Basket's away games against Israeli teams (six wins and seven losses) and with the positive experience of having won by 64-80 in the Samokov Arena during their visit to the other Israeli representative in the tournament In addition to the confirmed absences of long-term injured players Ethan Happ and Sergio De Larrea the Valencia team is closely monitoring the situation of Semi Ojeleye who was unable to play in the second half of the first game of this series after attempting to help the team in the first half despite being sick REFEREES: Milivoje Jovcic - Arturas Sukys - Maxime Boubert News View all Made by Lobo. has climbed one place in the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) rankings Last week Dimitrov took part in the Masters 1000 tournament in the Spanish capital Madrid Bulgaria’s junior group won all three gold medals at the 2025 Rhythmic Gymnastics European Cup in Baku (Azerbaijan) Bulgaria won the gold medal in the Senior Group Cross Battles at the 2025 Rhythmic Gymnastics European Cup in Baku (Azerbaijan) Danaya Atanasova and Viktoria Georgieva performed. english@bnr.bg Former Nevada basketball player Trey Porter has signed a contract withBC Rilski Sportist Porter played for Nevada in 2018-19 after spending time at George Mason and Old Dominion 230-pound center averaged 7.2 points,4.7 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in17.4 minutes per game during his lone season at Nevada He made 60.1 percent of his shots from the field He replaces former Memphis center Shaquille Goodwin on BC Rilski Sportist's roster Porter played last season in Turkey's second division and appeared for two teams (Duzce Belediye and Torku Konyaspor) where he averaged around 13 points Among the other Wolf Pack alums to sign overseas deals this offseason are Jazz Johnson (Italy Qatar Sports Club) and Marqueze Coleman (Estonia Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Bulgaria has returned more migrants than it has accepted so far this year under the Dublin Agreement the country’s winter tourism numbers are up over 5% compared to last season Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov revealed in a recent Facebook Q&A session that Bulgaria has sent more migrants to their home countries than it has taken in since the start of 2023 He mentioned that Bulgaria sends back about the same number of migrants as it allows to enter, as per agreements like the Dublin Regulation Bulgaria sent back at least 113 people to Austria showing that the country consistently upholds its policies on migration A recent charter flight brought 18 refugees from Austria back to Bulgaria This shows how complex it can be to organize and handle migrant groups Bulgaria’s winter tourism sector saw over 5% more registrations this season compared to last year’s numbers The growth was fueled by more visitors from Italy and 8% more Bulgarian nationals touring their own country The most popular winter destination was Bansko Samokov and areas like Smolyan and Chepelare also saw double-digit increases in tourists versus the previous season registrations from Israel decreased by almost 70% due to ongoing difficulties in attracting visitors from that country Bulgaria is working hard to reduce illegal immigration and boost its tourism industry, which is good news as it gets ready to join the Schengen Area At the Munich Security Conference meetings Prime Minister Denkov announced that Bulgaria has received strong support to switch to the euro currency by its goal of January 1st the country still faces opposition to Schengen Zone access from Austria over land borders Denkov said Bulgaria will keep negotiating with Austria to lift the final objection to full Schengen membership In June 2023, Bulgaria began talks to introduce the euro alongside its national currency Bulgaria’s position on immigration and its access to the Schengen Area could affect both tourists and people wanting to move to the European Union (EU) in several ways Tighter border checks could make it harder for families, investors, remote workers, and students from non-EU countries who are planning long-term stays Full Schengen inclusion would ease movement across Bulgaria’s land borders The path to Schengen could also speed up Bulgaria’s implementation of the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) by its scheduled launch in 2025 ETIAS aims to pre-screen visa-exempt country travelers and bolster security How Bulgaria proceeds on migration and borders will likely influence future ETIAS implementation Bulgaria is showing its dedication to European Union rules like the Dublin Regulation which deals with how asylum applications are processed by being firm about migrant returns and quotas As the country explains the importance of opening its land borders it is essentially making its case for proper immigration control under the Schengen framework If Bulgaria becomes a full member of the Schengen Zone it would need to follow the same immigration rules as other EU countries in that area Its recent actions demonstrate an effort to get migration numbers under control as a prerequisite to Schengen entry As Bulgaria moves forward with its plans to join the Schengen Area and the Eurozone it is also dealing with challenges like handling migrant arrivals and dealing with an increase in tourism during the winter months Denmarkov emphasized that Bulgaria is emphasizing the need to open its land borders citing progress made in addressing migration issues Terms of Use|Privacy Policy images or other representation of this site is prohibited and copyright violators will be pursued legally to the full extent of the law Valencia Basket wants to publicly condemn what happened yesterday after the second game of the BKT EuroCup semifinal and constant situations in which the safety of the members of our team were endangered are intolerable and a disgrace to our sport and the values it strives to promote our Club has already filed a formal complaint with the competition and hopes that and that the situation will serve as an example and prevent it from happening again News View all Get quality reporting directly into your inbox Czech arms tycoon Jaroslav Strnad did not limit his Balkan shopping spree to stockpiled Chinese munitions The businessman also bought at least two bankrupt formerly state-owned factories in the former Yugoslavia both of which are linked to the arms industry the Suvenir ammunition factory in the Macedonian village of Samokov Oktobar factory in the Serbian city of Kruševac Strnad’s dealings in both countries have involved figures linked to a clique of politicians and security officials accused of running a mafia state under Macedonia’s previous government Strnad’s firms snapped up the factories at rock-bottom prices the Macedonian acquisition has raised fears among senior local officials that the Czech businessman may have been more interested in gaining a sought-after export license than in actual production “The Czechs were only interested in having a Macedonian license,” said one party to the original purchase who spoke to OCCRP on condition of anonymity because of fear of repercussions part of the former Yugoslavia’s once-formidable arms industry The Communist-era facility sits in a particularly poor part of the Macedonian countryside hidden behind a rusty chain-link fence in a remote nook between wooded hills Documents obtained by OCCRP and partners show that Real Trade Praha paid just over €1 million (about $1.25 million) to the factory’s bankruptcy managers in 2010 The Macedonian firm that operates the factory lists the Sumbro ammunition plant as one of its assets indicate that the factory produced very little actual ammunition in its first five years under Czech ownership -- but it may have been involved in other lines of business Six current and former workers at the factory who spoke to OCCRP said that ran at far below capacity producing just a small amount of 9mm ammunition who had to be kept employed as a condition of the factory’s purchase Some of their tasks involved re-labeling crates that had been shipped in from elsewhere We were just changing labels,” said a worker who declined to be identified so as not to jeopardize his employment I can’t tell you what it was or what we were doing.” Reporters were only able to obtain export data for the factory’s operating company The 2016 and 2017 data shows exports of ammunition to countries including Slovakia Those figures show that the company exported an unspecified amount of bathroom and plumbing equipment to the Czech Republic The Samokov factory does not produce such items a representative of Real Trade Praha and other Strnad companies said that the intent of purchasing the factory was “not only to trade but also to produce.” only uses Macedonian export licenses for the sale of small arms ammunition produced at the factory as well as interviews with involved parties Strnad enlisted the help of Vojislav Sparavalo a Monaco-based businessman closely associated with Macedonia’s former ruling clique Previous OCCRP reporting revealed that Sparavalo jointly invested in Czech real estate with Sašo Mijalkov the notorious former head of Macedonia’s domestic security agency the Administration for Security and Counterintelligence (UMK) a cousin of former Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski was a key member of a powerful clique that ruled the Balkan country for a decade was appointed advisor to the director general of customs during the Gruevski government Gruevski’s VMRO-DPMNE party lost power in 2017 after a protracted political crisis The former prime minister is currently on trial for corruption Mijalkov himself is on trial for illegal wiretapping and torture and is expected to face trial for corruption as well when the failure of the Czech businessman’s factory to meet investment and hiring targets got him into trouble with the board of trustees Strnad arrived with Sparavalo and one of his executives to the Macedonian embassy in Prague to lobby for his continued ownership of the factory according to internal Macedonian foreign ministry correspondence seen by OCCRP It’s not clear whether the presence of a Mijalkov associate like Sparavalo at the meeting was decisive in ensuring that Strnad would keep his factory But the fact that an official memo later produced by the foreign ministry on the meeting expunged Sparavalo’s name suggests that his presence there may have been a sensitive matter Interviews with two Macedonian officials show that Strnad was also able to enlist the help of the office of Czech President Miloš Zeman whose staff introduced the topic of the businessman’s troubled factory onto the agenda of the president’s February 2016 meeting in Prague with his Macedonian counterpart The topic was later dropped from the official agenda of the meeting which was held on the sidelines of a summit of the Visegrad Group of Central European countries again suggesting that the topic was a sensitive one saying only that “the President has been supporting economic entrepreneurs from many fields for a long time.” Leaked emails obtained by OCCRP also show that Strnad received assistance on a separate matter from Kiro Šošev, another member of Mijalkov’s clique who Gruevski’s government appointed as an advisor to the Ministry of Defense He was serving in this position in 2010 when Strnad’s Real Trade Praha moved into the country Strnad company executive Petr Rusek contacted a procurement officer of the Macedonian Ministry of Defense to arrange a visit to a Macedonian airbase to carry out maintenance on Czechoslovak-made Zlin 242 trainer aircraft Rusek makes clear the visit was arranged by Šošev as his role gave him control of defense logistics He was also widely seen as a faithful servant of Mijalkov’s network and people were complaining,” Dimitriev said “He was pretty much a grey eminence,” he said using a term used to refer to a powerful behind-the-scenes decision-maker a representative of Strnad’s companies wrote that Šošev and we have never implemented any aircraft maintenance in Skopje.” Strnad’s companies also made a far more recent move into neighboring Serbia this time in a more direct partnership with Vojislav Sparavalo A Serbian company belonging to Strnad’s Czechoslovak Group bought the bankrupt 14 Oktobar heavy industry factory in the Serbian city of Kruševac last year which was attended by Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabić a date commemorating the city’s 1944 liberation from Nazi occupation Documents obtained by OCCRP show that Strnad’s firm bought the factory for almost $4.5 million – just ten percent of its official estimated value Four previous rounds of offers had failed to attract any interested investors Sparavalo bought a 15 percent share of the factory from Strnad’s firm The Monaco-based businessman paid just $12,000 for his minority stake in the factory which would have been worth $675,000 at the valuation implied by Strnad’s purchase price a representative of Strnad’s companies disputed reporters’ assertions that Sparavalo’s share represented a steep discount of the factory’s real value Sparavalo also disputed these estimates of the factory’s value told OCCRP that the factory currently employs over 160 people and that the management is currently coming up with an investment plan to refurbish it “Contracts with third parties are a company secret,” she said Additional reporting by Aleksandra Denkovska and Sinead Carolan The story was reported in collaboration with BIRN Albania the Czech Center for Investigative Journalism the Crime and Corruption Reporting Network (KRIK) Support from readers like you helps OCCRP expose organized crime and corruption around the world you’ll be directly supporting investigative journalism as a public good You’ll also gain access to exclusive insights and benefits Millions of rounds of old Chinese munitions Jaroslav Strnad is the main campaign backer of Czech President Miloš Zeman A selection of additional findings from the FinCEN Files by OCCRP reporters and member centers hosted the final round of the European Baja Championship | Copyright 2025 FIM Europe | Terms of use - Privacy statement | HOT: » What kind of news would you like to see more of? A 13-year-old girl and her mother died on the spot Medical teams pronounced the girl and the woman dead was transported in serious condition to the District Hospital The traffic is regulated by the "Road Police" and those traveling in the direction of Samokov are redirected along a detour route Sofia - Bistrica - Zheleznitsa - Kovachevtsi - Belchinski bani The District Hospital told the National Television that the driver of the car had a severe hemorrhage in the head The driver of the truck that hit the car is at the scene in good condition People who happened to be at the scene immediately after the collision between the truck and the car suggested that the wet pavement was the reason why the truck entered the oncoming traffic and caused this fatal accident Follow Novinite.com on Twitter and Facebook Write to us at editors@novinite.com Информирайте се на Български - Novinite.bg We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria An 18-year-old girl who had been reported missing in Haskovo has been found dead A woman sustained serious injuries after being attacked with pepper spray and an electroshock device and subsequently set on fire inside a hospital in the Bulgarian town of Botevgrad A serious traffic accident in the Bulgarian town of Harmanli has left a 13-year-old child in critical condition after he was struck by a car while riding an electric scooter A transgender woman was reportedly attacked with a sword and beaten in the center of Sofia in what she claims was a homophobic assault and the community bid farewell to 12-year-old Siyana who tragically lost her life in a serious car accident near Telish A 30-year-old woman from Yambol was severely beaten and held captive for four days by a man she had been dating for only two weeks Israel has turned to Bulgaria for assistance in battling the rapidly advancing wildfires in areas near Jerusalem The Bulgarian mobile operator A1 has confirmed that it is experiencing technical difficulties affecting both calls and text messages across its network A series of minor earthquakes were recorded in the Nessebar area with the strongest tremor measuring 3.3 on the Richter scale A 25-year-old man is in critical condition following an accident at the amusement park in Yambol Google Street View Cars Return to Bulgaria for Major Mapping Update Housing Prices Soar in Bulgaria’s Major Cities as Demand and Supply Strain Increase A 41-year-old British citizen has been taken into custody in Bulgaria's Borovets after allegedly assaulting a security guard at the resort according to the Samokov District Prosecutor's Office took place near the lower station of the Yastrebets Express lift on February 23 The attack led to temporary health impairment and authorities have classified the act as being driven by hooligan motives multiple procedural and investigative actions were conducted The supervising prosecutor from the Samokov District Prosecutor’s Office has ordered M.K to be detained for up to 72 hours as legal proceedings continue Bulgaria commemorates one of its most significant national holidays – the Day of Saint George the Victorious and the official Day of the Bulgarian Army all retailers in Bulgaria will be required to display prices in both leva and euros Employers in Bulgaria are legally required to implement all necessary measures to prevent and minimize workplace accidents a major British tour operator specializing in holidays to Bulgaria has halted all its operations effective April 24 Wage growth in Bulgaria is projected at 9.3 percent for 2025 a 15.4 percent rise in the minimum wage since January The World Bank has revised down its forecast for Bulgaria’s economic growth in 2025 Contacts +359 2 9262 210 By accepting cookies you can enjoy a better experience while browsing pages As public relations entered a new stage in the 18th and 19th century different schools of art took shape in Bulgaria That was the age of the Bulgarian National Revival; in Western Europe the 18th century was the Age of Enlightenment a time when the national idea and the national-liberation struggles burgeoned Elena Genova from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Institute of Art Studies that was the time several distinct art schools were formed - in Tryavna “One of the biggest and most notable schools is the Samokov School,” says Prof “It was founded by Hristo Dimitrov from Samokov who was trained at Mount Athos At the close of the 18th century Mount Athos was the hub that absorbed European influences to the other Christian Orthodox centres of the Balkans After his training was over Hristo Dimitrov returned to his home town to continue his work He trained his sons - Dimitar Hristov Zograf (meaning icon painter) and Zahari Zograf a name better known to the Bulgarian public.” Samokov iconography thrived thanks to three generations of painters “The school followed in the tracks of post-Byzantine painting from the close of the 18th and the turn of the 19th century But in reality it was swayed by different influences with the influence of Mount Athos being most direct Indirect influences came from the Serbian lands where in the latter half of the 18th and the 19th century art was on the upswing - the so-called Baroque period in the arts in Serbia The third route that had an indirect influence on art in Samokov and in Bulgaria as a whole That was where incunabula with engravings tricked in from which people in Samokov absorbed Hristo Dimitrov also laid the foundations of a huge archive later continued by his sons that included illustrated bibles and albums with secular drawings and engravings for the icon painters of Samokov to learn from.” Hristo Ivanov's younger son - Zahari Zograf was the name that was to become the most illustrious “He is the most productive figure in terms of innovation,” explains Prof “Zahari Zograf was known to experiment in many different areas He created an original decorative system for the churches he worked in - most of all in the monasteries of Troyan and Preobrazhenie (transfiguration)" "But I wouldn't say he is the most talented of the icon painters with the appearance of new publications about the school of Samokov we see the name of his older brother Dimitar Zograf taking prominence but Dimitar's body of work is by far more professional and voluminous Without making much of a fuss (his brother was far more effusive) Dimitar introduced a host of new elements in ecclesiastical painting - images taken directly or indirectly from Western Europe Subjects that were very popular during the Bulgarian National Revival began to find their way into ecclesiastical art The most popular among them were moral and didactic motifs depicted in the open galleries of the big churches and connected with Judgement Day subjects Dimitar expanded on after his father Hristo Dimitrov The volume of Hristo's work is much smaller and he worked on fewer churches Dimitar gave free rein to his imagination in the central church at Rila monastery together with his son Zafir who after graduating the art academy at St Petersburg took the name of Stanislav Dospevski He is of the third generation of Samokov painters Thousands of square meters of frescoes were painted at Rila monastery - a phenomenon unique to the Balkans in that age The monastery's head icon painter was Dimitar Zograf,” says Prof Here is an interesting fact from his biography At the end of his life - in 1851-1852 - a letter came from Mount Athos about painting the open gallery at the Great Lavra addressed to Zahari's brother - Dimitar Hristov Yoan Icon-painter and Dimitar Molerov of the Bansko School of art The letter invited them to paint the open gallery sending an intermediary ahead to negotiate the conditions for the job however the whole job went into the hands of Zahari who didn't even consult his older colleagues I know of a later letter by Dimitar Zograf in which he refuses to work on Mount Athos as the styles of the two icon-painters was so different that it would not be appropriate for both to be working there.” The work of the artists from the Samokov School is far-reaching geographically They have worked in all corners of what are today the Bulgarian territories Answering a question whether there are purely Bulgarian ways saints are depicted Genova says that this is a culture that has been developing over millennia and that dividing lines should not be drawn between things Bulgarian or non-Bulgarian In this sense the story of the icon depicting the Holy Mother of God with wings in Sukovo monastery “It is the story of the shroud of the Holy Mother of God It is a subject that is purely Ukrainian and comes from Russia and Ukraine Its appearance in the Bulgarian lands is connected with the convent in Samokov The founder of the convent had lived in Kiev and when she returned she brought with her the cult of the Holy Mother of God with wings In these parts she is only depicted by the artists of the Samokov School The motif of the shroud of the Mother of God originated in Russia long before that - in the 12th century and evolved there over many years From there it was brought to Western Europe where it is known as Madonna della Misericordia (Madonna of Mercy) and from Western Europe it went back to Russia and the Orthodox countries in the Balkans But in Bulgaria it was only the icon painters of Samokov that depict the Madonna - it can well be said it is a motif that is their own even though its origin is not Bulgarian.” "You must have strong faith and pray - then the saint will help you and carry your prayer to God," says Father Georgi Markov of the Church of St Athanasius the Great in Gorni Lozen near Sofia He adds that he has often witnessed the miracles of St. marks 1160 years since the baptism of our Bulgarian people into the Orthodox faith and 1170 years since the creation of the Bulgarian alphabet and Slavic literature the Varna and Veliki Preslav Bishopric Metropolis. Bulgaria celebrates 149 years since the April Uprising – an event that led to the liberation of Bulgaria after almost five centuries of Ottoman rule we must not forget that every participant in the April. The Great Britain and Northern Ireland team will be looking to top the European Cross Country Championships medal table for the seventh year in succession when the annual event takes place in Bulgaria for the first time on Sunday The muddy venue for the 21st edition of the championships is the mountain resort of Borovets After making the podium on the last two occasions she has competed Gemma Steel will be among the favourites in the 7913m senior women's race and could become the third British winner of this title after Paula Radcliffe and Hayley Yelling The Charnwood AC athlete knows victory in Bulgaria won’t come easily but the 29-year-old has experience on her side “I know who to look out for,” she told AW after winning the trial race at Sefton Park “I’ve just got to get all the tactics right as I’ve done all the training.” the Frenchwoman who claimed a five-second victory over the Briton last year in Belgrade who finished third at last month’s New York City Marathon on her debut at the distance Ireland’s two-time Euro Cross gold medallist Fionnuala Britton has had a different build-up this year after her marathon debut Fourth in 2013 when competing for a third consecutive Euro Cross victory she was one spot ahead of Norway’s former junior champion Karoline Grovdal European 5000m champion Meraf Bahta competes while Belgium’s Almensh Belete is also in action fresh from victory in Roeselare who gained eligibility to compete for Spain ahead of this competition who won 3000m steeplechase bronze in Zurich Defending team gold alongside Steel is Kate Avery who last month became the first British woman to win the NCAA Championships Steph Twell is another to bring a great deal of experience to the team having competed in nine of the last 10 editions of the event Having beaten Mo Farah to the senior men’s title in 2009 before receiving a two-year drugs ban Ethiopian-born Spaniard Alemayehu Bezabeh returned to the Euro Cross last year to claim a 21-second victory ahead of Turkey’s Polat Kemboi Arikan Bezabeh defends his title over a 9987m route on Sunday and having led Spain to team victory last year too Mohamed Marhum and Daniel Mateo as they look to repeat that feat Arikan also returns and he is joined by the likes of 20-year-old Ali Kaya who last year won the junior title and this summer bagged European 10,000m bronze behind Farah and Andy Vernon Vernon was third behind Bezabeh and Arikan in Belgrade last year but after winning two European medals in Zurich has picked up an injury Callum Hawkins and Andrew Butchart claimed a Scottish one-two at the trials in Liverpool Butchart will be joined on the senior team by Luke Caldwell Beijing Olympian Tom Lancashire finished fifth in Liverpool and this will be his senior cross country team debut after finishing 19th in the 2007 under-23 race Three-time Euro Cross gold medallist Andrea Lalli and fellow Italian Daniele Meucci are concentrating on the roads and it was Patrick Nasti who won Italy’s trials Irish inter-counties cross country championships winner Paul Pollock features for Ireland while Florian Carvalho and Hassan Chahdi are among those on the French team Among the British athletes competing in the under-23 and under-20 events are Emelia Gorecka See the December 11 edition of Athletics Weekly magazine, which is available digitally now or for next working day delivery for a more in-depth Euro Cross preview which includes a look ahead to under-23 and under-20 race action » Fans in the UK can watch the action live on the BBC Red Button from 8:10-13:25 GMT on Sunday Hudson-Smith and Pavey among British Athletics' athletes of the year The Bulgarian women's national volleyball team achieved a victory in the opening round of Group 2's Pool M of the FIVB World Grand Prix 15-12) on Friday and at present occupies the first place in Pool M while her fellow nationals Mira Todorova and Yuliya Stoyanova added 15 points each In its next two matches on Saturday and Sunday Bulgaria will respectively face the Czech Republi and Puerto Rico The Bulgarian town of Samokov hosts the matches from Pool M Grigor Dimitrov advanced to the round of 16 at the Madrid Masters after securing a straight-sets win over Britain’s Jacob Fearnley Olympiacos made a strong start to the Euroleague playoffs with a convincing 84:72 victory over Real Madrid in the first game of their quarterfinal series On the latest episode of WWE Raw in Las Vegas Bulgarian wrestling star Miroslav Barnyashev Bulgaria will once again have a representative in the English Premier League Bulgaria secured second place in the overall medal standings at the European Acrobatics Championship in the age groups Bulgaria's Angel Rusev secured his fifth European weightlifting title Various dishes that are characteristic of the region of Samokov such as potato pancake with filling of beans as well as many other local meals prepared according to old recipes were among the many culinary delights of a festival in Samokov provide great potential for the development of the regional economy," Deputy Minister of Agriculture Georgi Sabev there are suitable conditions across Bulgaria and various high-quality products are produced throughout the country There is also an economic potential that would distinguish the regions from each other and attract visitors from the country and abroad Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev has left for Washington where he will participate in the Munich Leaders Meeting (May 5-7 The forum is organised by the Munich Security Conference The foundation Unity- Kočani has sent an open letter to key Bulgarian institutions expressing gratitude for the support and humanitarian assistance provided by Bulgaria after the tragedy of the fire at a nightclub in Kočani The foreign ministers of Bulgaria and Greece Georg Georgiev and Giorgos Gerapetritis signed a joint declaration on the use of the waters of the river Arda on 2 May the BNR reports citing an announcement published by the Greek Foreign Ministry.. people will be able to withdraw money  from ATMs only in the new currency according to the website of the Bulgarian. helicopters of the Bulgarian Air Force will fly at low altitude over Sofia in preparation for a military parade marking the Day. The Bulgarian student teams that participated in the European Olympiad of Experimental Sciences EOES 2025 in Zagreb have returned with. one of Bulgaria's most popular ski resorts has been left entirely without electricity as confirmed by a statement on the resort's official Facebook page According to the electricity distribution company power supply in the area is expected to be restored around 2:00 p.m the ski area will remain closed until noon Other parts of the Samokov municipality have also reported unplanned power outages with the company estimating repairs will be completed by the end of the day Heavy snowfall has caused widespread power outages across the country districts such as Dragalevtsi and villa zones including "Kiliite," Simeonovo-Dragalevtsi and Bistritsa have been without electricity since yesterday Electricity in these locations is expected to return by 12:30 p.m Several settlements in Pleven have also reported power interruptions The electricity distribution company has provided a timetable for restoring power in affected areas and Pleven is scheduled to be restored by 8:00 a.m. while Kyustendil and Letnitsa are expected to have power by 8:30 a.m Treklyano should have electricity by 9:00 a.m. Power restoration is planned for noon in Borovets and Pravets are expected to regain power by 12:30 p.m. while Etropole and Elin Pelin are scheduled for 1:00 p.m In Lukovit and other settlements in Pleven with Svoge and Teteven expected to have electricity by 2:00 p.m The power disruptions have also affected train services with Bulgarian State Railways (BDZ) reporting temporary suspensions Train services between Tsareva Livada and Gabrovo have been halted due to fallen branches on the tracks and a lack of voltage in the contact network power outages between Debelets and Krastets stations have disrupted schedules Passenger trains on routes such as Gorna Oryahovitsa–Stara Zagora and Dabovo–Gorna Oryahovitsa have been canceled due to damage to the contact network Passengers from these routes are being redirected to alternative services The National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology forecasts that May will bring temperatures ranging from 2°C to 33°C across Bulgaria the weather will be mostly sunny—around and after midday cumulus and cumulonimbus clouds will develop Bulgaria and Greece have signed a draft Joint Declaration regarding the use of the Arda River waters over the next five years following a decision by the Bulgarian Council of Ministers The weather across Bulgaria on May 1 will begin with sunshine in the morning followed by an increase in cloud cover during the afternoon The Constitutional Court of Bulgaria has repealed legislative changes made two years ago that permitted the installation of photovoltaic (solar) systems on arable agricultural land Bulgaria will experience mostly sunny weather accompanied by a light to moderate east-northeast wind Bulgaria experienced a remarkable surge in winter tourism from December 1 with a total of 1.8 million tourist check-ins recorded across the country comprising 1.3 million of the total arrivals visitors from neighboring countries and beyond contributed significantly to the influx with Romanian tourists numbering over 62,000 and visitors from Turkiye exceeding 53,000 Great Britain made a substantial contribution with 53,000 visitors exploring Bulgaria's offerings the Municipality of Sofia emerged as the top destination Bulgaria's winter tourism sector is expected to witness a 5% increase in visits compared to the previous winter season with notable growth anticipated from key markets such as Turkiye The Unified Tourist Information System (UTIS) shows that the largest share of tourists fell within the age group of 30 to 44 indicating a broad demographic appeal for Bulgaria's offerings Residents of Sofia who are customers of "Toplofikatsia Sofia" can now benefit from a new mobile application "My Heat," which offers a more accessible and user-friendly way to manage heating-related services chairman of the Bulgarian Hotel Association highlighted a major issue in Bulgaria’s tourism sector: a significant decline in the workforce executive director of the Bulgarian Association of Hotel Management Professionals one-third of Bulgarian hoteliers are planning a modest price increase of about 10% Tourism in Bulgaria has made significant strides toward recovery in 2024 though it still hasn't returned to pre-pandemic levels of 2019 Bulgaria continues to lag behind neighboring countries in achieving significant growth in its tourism sector Despite the global escalation of the trade war there have been no significant negative trends in Bulgaria’s tourism sector so far near Samokov you will be able to watch historical   battles describing the rebellions against the Ottoman empire have fun and learn more about the cause and the life of Chakar voivoda and his struggle against the Ottomans Then “Chakar Feasts” will take place in the Chakar meadow area On  27th at 6 pm the participants in the event will be welcomed a camp will be built and a fire will be lit up so the fun with delicious meals and music can begin The ceremonial opening of the feast will be at 10.30 am on July 28 with the performances of the “Big bagpipes” from Smolyan An hour later the historic re-creation will take place involving patriotic clubs from all over Bulgaria It will tell about the life and fights of Chakar voivoda worked in a weapon shop where he learned to shoot artistically Chakar Voivoda is rebuffing against the request to work for the Ottomans free of charge and together with about 40 adherents began the fight against the Ottomans He was protecting also the famous Rila Monastery whose wife took a bribe from the Turks to kill the hero The Feast of Chakarov Meadow will continue at 12.30 pm with making a special meal with meat and giving it free to the audience whose biggest star will be the singer Volodya Stoyanov The other participants will be the orchestra Royal band from Blagoevgrad and different  Samokov groups for songs and dances and in the evening there will be a splash of fiery fires in the tent camp to smell the air of the past times and to feel the legends in the air And I'm lucky to have been born in a country with a glorious past and a lot of stories to tell Bulgaria was founded more than 1,300 years ago and has never changed its name their music and their art have changed over the centuries I invite you to take a walk through the different ages of Bulgaria and to get to know it better The five Romanian citizens who died in the car crash in Bulgaria were most likely heading to Borovets mountain resort citing Romania’s Consul to Bulgaria Marius Dilof The Romanian diplomat has gone to the accident’s site to find out the personal data of the five Romanian victims According to Dilof the crash occurred either because of high speed or driver’s fatigue and the moves have been going on slowly because the police failed to read the car’s number plate for still obscure reasons was skidding to the wrong lane frontally hitting a Bulgarian long-vehicle A Samokov-based Police Inspectorate official has failed to supply any data either about the age of the victims or about which of the two drivers involved in the crash was guilty of the mishap The fourth edition of the LUNAR Festival of Lights in Sofia will illuminate 10,000 square meters of art across some of the city's most iconic buildings and public spaces from May 8 to May 11 The Sofia Police has launched a targeted operation against drivers of electric scooters and electric motorbikes who engage in reckless behavior in the city's central areas Todor Kantardzhiev warned that Sofia's sewer system should be cleared of rats opened fire with a gas pistol near a kindergarten in Sofia's Lyulin district Sofia Municipality is set to implement a revised framework for managing its municipal housing stock by introducing two distinct rental categories A 33-year-old man from the village of Semchinovo has been taken into custody by the police for physically assaulting a 10-year-old child A 12-year-old boy from Lukovit has been hospitalized with two broken arms and head injuries after reportedly being assaulted and thrown from a bridge the director of the Plovdiv Customs Office was arrested earlier today for allegedly facilitating a new smuggling route for cigarettes president of the Rilski Sportist football club and nationalist municipal councilor in the town of Samokov “The patient will have to spend ten days in the reanimation unit provided that the surgeries go well,” the head of the emergency department at the Pirogov hospital He said that Galev is the only one admitted to the hospital following the accident denying an earlier statement by Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov that the life of Galev’s driver is also in danger Galev was brought to the Pirogov hospital in Sofia with an ambulance from Samokov at about 6 am Sunday Unofficial reports say unknown men shot at his car Galev has five gunshot wounds in the stomach and the limbs Galev is notorious in Samokov for a number of criminal acts The latest one was in February when Galev and several of his associates beat two ski lift guards in the Borovets mountain resort after the latter refused to let his son ride the lift for free the local police arrested four of Galev's men for arson of an office of the Borosport firm Donald Trump revealed on his social network "Truth Social" that he was shot in the upper part of his right ear during a rally in Pennsylvania Gunshots were reportedly fired at Donald Trump's rally in Pennsylvania prompting security staff to rush the former president off stage although he remains in a serious condition following an attack with no current information available regarding his condition The incident happened in one of the parks in Elenovo district there were no mothers with children in the playgrounds The TimesA British woman who died on the dance floor at a Bulgarian bar during a ski holiday is thought to have become ill after buying cocaine from a local drug dealer died on Monday night after collapsing at BJ’s bar in Borovets a mountain ski resort around 45 miles south of Sofia Local press reported that a group of British tourists sought help at an eme rgency medical centre at around 9pm telling staff that they had taken cocaine before becoming ill Ms Holmes fainted at the bar half an hour later and paramedics from the nearby city of Samokov were unable to revive her has been arrested on suspicion of drug dealing A police officer from Samokov said tests were being carried out on the drug taken by the group but insisted his was “a rare case” Four other people are understood to have been taken to hospital for treatment A spokeswoman from Bulgaria’s Ministry of the Interior confirmed a woman had been detained but declined to go into detail Friends and relatives posted dozens of tributes to Ms Holmes on Facebook We just bounced of each other and loved every second of being with u xxx.” A woman who met Ms Holmes and Mr Herbert on Sunday during a ski lesson said: “It’s really scary She seemed like a really nice girl who was here to have a good time with her boyfriend “Borovets in the night is a real party town But you don’t expect something like this to happen ski instructors and pub and club workers - are really shocked and saddened by what has happened.” AdviceMore from AdviceGatwick airport strikes, Easter 2025: will my flight be cancelled?April 15 2025 there are no real solutions in any of the sectors people worry about how they will feed their families and how they will pay their bills say potato growers from the town of Samokov They protested in front of the Ministry of Agriculture in Sofia against a regulation voted by the European Commission according to which ware potatoes are removed from Coupled Agricultural Subsidies Only starch potatoes remain covered.(Ware potatoes are all sorts destined for human consumption in potato form – ed.) After the EU Commission vote potato producers in Bulgaria are left without any financial support at the beginning of the new agricultural season This leaves potato producers in Bulgaria without any support at the beginning of the new agricultural season In mid-February they announced they were ready to take protest action."We have nothing at the moment only the strongest in the sector will survive those who have side incomes to rely on," says Ekaterina Cholakova these problems have been piling up for 15 years in the Agriculture sector The state has not found any solution for them "We are throwing our labor and money into a bottomless pit my husband and I will have to decide what to do load the children in the car and leave Bulgaria to work hard in a foreign country," Ekaterina Cholakova says "From next year there will be no subsidies for potato farming because Brussels believes there is overproduction of potatoes But there is no overproduction in Bulgaria the potatoes on the market are mostly imported the entire Bulgarian potato harvest can satisfy the needs of a city the size of Plovdiv (population 347 000 - ed.) for just two months we had a conversation with Deputy Minister of Agriculture Momchil Nekov He assured us that the cabinet wants to work with us We also had a meeting with the President's adviser The Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) has again reduced the key interest rate in the country This is the eighth consecutive month of a decrease in. An analysis by the Ministry of Economy and Industry shows that in 2024 Bulgaria's trade with the United States accounted for 1.7% of the country’s total trade volume making up 2.6% of total exports and imports from the U.S.. Around 4 billion euros in debt have been raised from international markets through two bond issues The amount was raised through issues of 9-year and 13-year bonds – marking the country’s first entry into the. Six Scots have been picked to represent Team GB and NI at the Euro Cross in Bulgaria It is terrific compliment to the endurance running scene in Scotland currently with three Seniors two U23s and one U20 athlete selected by British Athletics Six out of an overall GB team of 36 athletes for the event in Samokov represents 16.66 percent and only once in the past 15 years has the tally been topped in terms of Scots at the Euro Cross the call-ups for Central AC’s Andrew Butchart Luke Caldwell (Dorking and Mole Valley AC) and Steph Twell  (Aldershot Farnham and District) for Samokov on December 14 reflect well Since 1996 there has only been ONE Scot involved in the Senior Men’s race when Andrew Lemoncello featured in that 2009 group. You can view Scots in GB Teams at Euro Cross – previous years (Excel 45kB) to see those teams in more detail Euro Trial winner Kilbarchan AAC’s Callum Hawkins (watch a post-race interview from Liverpool) and Rhona Auckland (Banchory Stonehaven/Edinburgh Uni) look to have individual podium potential in their age group while Inverclyde AC are celebrating Jonny Glen’s inclusion at U20 after he took the sixth slot in the GB selection Check out the British Athletics highlights video With record numbers at the East District XC Champs this weekend as well there’s plenty to be encouraged about for those with athletics in Scotland at heart Liverpool: Men’s finish – photo by Mark Shearman ‘It is really pleasing that we have this kind of representation in Team GB and NI for the Euro Cross,’ said Rodger Harkins ‘I was in Liverpool and there were some very fine individual performances For Callum Hawkins and Andrew Butchart to finish 1-2 in the Senior Men’s was excellent and Luke Caldwell made it three Scots in the top four ‘Rhona Auckland had another very good run in the Women’s race and will race alongside Emelia Gorecka at U23 level in Bulgaria That looks promising for the GB team in that category ‘I believe for Steph Twell this is a seventh appearance at the Euro Cross which shows tremendous consistency across a number of years as she has moved up from Junior to Senior ‘I feel athletes across the country will be encouraged and it is no exaggeration to say that when people win GB international vests they become ‘role models’ at their clubs parents and ‘support teams’ of the athletes involved Volunteer coaches and helpers across the whole spectrum of our clubs can share in this kind of news – because they are making an important contribution to create the right environment for athletes to prosper The GB and NI team will be looking to replicate their performance in Belgrade 12 months ago which saw them top the medal table with nine medals including five gold the team leader for the GB & NI team in Samokov said: ‘There were a number of promising performances in last weekend’s Liverpool Cross Challenge and I’m sure with the right preparation over the course of the next two weeks ‘Belgrade was a very successful championships for the team last year and we will be looking to continue GB and NI’s recent success at the European Cross Country Championships in Bulgaria.’ GB and NI team for the European Cross Country Championships in Samokov Samokov lies just 55 kilometers from Sofia and is best known for its proximity to the ski resort of Borovets The people who have inhabited these parts through the ages have left abundant evidence – for example stone painted in the style of the local master-painters tools made of iron extracted in the environs which are not susceptible to corrosion over time All this has been conserved and kept in excellent condition by the numerous museum workers who have worked here The Museum of History in Samokov was created in 1930 to offer many and different collections Most of the artifacts the archaeological exposition features are from Thracian times as well as finds from the period of late antiquity The ethnographic collection presents jewellery paintings and photographs made by the first photographic studios in the country What visitors to the museum find fascinating are the beautiful works of the famed Samokov icon-painting school and especially the works by Zahari Zograph The exposition features his personal belongings Now the museum in Samokov has more than 30,000 exhibits with more added every day An important part of the exposition is connected with the old blacksmithing workshops a reminder that the town was in fact created because of the abundant iron deposits here Local master craftsmen learnt how to make machinery with water powered sledge-hammers that made iron sturdier (meaning an automated hammer) hence the name of the town Here is the museum’s director Vesselin Hadjiangelov with more about iron smithery in the town that spread its fame far and wide “A working model of the famous samokov was unveiled on 10 September It is almost life-size and can be seen as one enters the town The spot was selected because there was an original samokov here 100 years ago It is in fact a big sledge-hammer powered by a water-wheel It was used for the purification of the molten iron forged This made the iron product sturdier and ready to market The samokovs appeared somewhere between the 12th and the 14th century and were probably brought to these parts by miners of German origin coming from Central Europe They were professionals and brought the sketches for the samokovs with them That was the time when the iron from Samokov became a hallmark of quality At Europe’s biggest market-places and the industrial centres of the Ottoman Empire the measure used was called “Samokov scales” The iron from Samokov was known never to corrode because the ore mined here was rich in rare metals and as it was processed the iron acquired the characteristics of steel Original metal hammers and samokovs are on display in the museum courtyard; they have been out in the open for more than 70 years and not a speck of rust is there to be seen on any of them This is a trade that kept the local people in money and pushed the town to economic prosperity during the time of the National Revival Soon art and education thrived here and the famed Samokov art school emerged churches were built and icons painted inside them Official documents show that the population here was mixed – with a Jewish and a Greek quarter Many different religions were practiced and each had its own temple Even now there are five churches in Samokov as well as a mosque now monuments of culture open to the public.” Archaeological excavations are ongoing in and around Samokov And adds that the restored Tsari Mali Grad fortress near Belchin village has been part of the museum in Samokov for two years In that short time it has been visited by over 630,000 An architectural and cultural monument of national importance the church of Saint George the Victorious in the town of Kyustendil is located at the foot of the nearby Osogovo Mountain We do not need to travel thousands of kilometers to reach holy Christian places and “drink from the miraculous well” of Orthodox faith Hundreds of churches and monasteries were built on Bulgarian territory with the faith and the hope. A hard-to-reach fortress rose on a solitary ridge which was towering above the Asenitsa River This place built high in the rocks was once sheltering Thracians an emblematic figure of the Bulgarian National Revival who has gone down in history as an artist but also as an advocate for the use of the Bulgarian language in church service The master icon painter from the Samokov School of icon painting has left multiple works of excellence for the coming generations To this very day icons and frescoes by him can be seen in different churches and monasteries – the Last Judgement fresco in Bachkovo Monastery Saints Cyril and Methodius in Troyan Monastery the Wheel of Life in Preobrazhenie Monastery etc Yet it was clerics that maintained that the most famous of all icon-painters in Bulgaria had committed apostasy in his art prior the country’s liberation from Ottoman domination to become the father of secular painting in Bulgaria Zahari Zograf was also anathematized for the audacity of painting his own face on the walls of monasteries thus highlighting the human creator as opposed to the Creator of all things Elena Genova from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Institute of Art Studies talks about Zahari Zograf’s innovative spirit and the audacity of his ideas and also about the generation of icon painters who created the most prominent icon-painting school in Bulgaria – the Samokov school From Radio Bulgaria’s collection: Prof. Elena Genova presents: The Samokov School of iconography the entire Christian world celebrates the Bright Resurrection of Christ this is the most radiant and joyful day - the Feast of Feasts - which proclaims the victory of life over death With a scent of spring and anticipation of the great Resurrection of Christ Palm Sunday is among the most beloved holidays in Bulgaria people fill the churches and share their joy through prayer at the festive. The day of Saint Theodore known in Bulgarian as Todorovden is a significant Bulgarian holiday which is celebrated on the Saturday after Cheesefare Sunday - this year its date is March 8 Todorovden combines pagan beliefs and Orthodox canon. On the first day of the competition at the 21st Balkan Taekwondo Championship in the Bulgarian city of Samokov the contestants of the Montenegrin club Akademac won the gold medal Sara Arifović and Milena Šćepanović earned the top of the podium in the team performance of the form execution discipline Their medal is the biggest success in the history of the Akademac club About 750 competitors from the Balkan countries are participating in the championship who failed to win medals in the individual competition Akademac still counts on junior Dino Arifović and older pioneer Jovana Laković With them in Samokov is the coach of Akademac and the national team of Montenegro Dino Arifović will fight tomorrow in the category up to 78 kilograms Jovana Laković will also compete in the category up to 40 kilograms The impressive display devoted to his 200th birth anniversary includes his most famous self-portrait the most expensive oil work in the gallery’s entire collection Visitors are welcome to enjoy Zahari Zograf’s icons commissioned by many churches in Bulgaria “His first fresco commission came from the St Zahari Zograf produced a veritable masterpiece In 1844-1845 the interiors of the monastery’s new large church were painted for the first time The artist of genius worked on the most difficult part of them He used a fresco technique instead of oil.” Warrior Saints (both from Preobrajenski Monastery) Later in his life Zahari Zograf created frescos in the Troyan and Transfiguration monasteries Toward the end of his life he went to work in Mount Athos Most of his legacy is kept at the National Art Gallery It also keeps his family’s collection of prints A pianist and conductor with a world-class career Ivan Yanakov has been performing on several continents for decades He has played as a soloist with prestigious orchestras in famous halls The Night of Musicals takes place tonight at the Vasil Levski Palace of Culture and Sports in Veliko Tarnovo The first major ballet event in the festive jubilee programme celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Stara Zagora Opera is the premiere of "Parisian Nights" Only on the Day of Bravery and Holiday of the Bulgarian Army (May 6) we will provide our visitors with the opportunity to enter three of perhaps the most interesting machines from our outdoor exhibition Dozens of enthusiasts and nature lovers will kick off the 44th edition of the Move and Win campaign with a spring hike to Bozhur Hut The meeting point will be the Vladishki Bridge in Veliko Tarnovo The third edition of the Samardala Festival will be held on 3 May in the central square of Nova Zagora is used as a spice and is harvested at the peak of its flowering in May we will provide our visitors with the opportunity to enter three. There is a place located at the foot of Rila Mountain not far from the town of Samokov where one can enjoy crystal clear air It starts from the village of Beli Iskar and follows the stream of Beli Iskar River which shapes a picturesque valley the mountain reveals some of its most attractive corners While walking along the route you will enjoy some breathtaking views The eco trail meanders among meadows dotted with flowers through shady trees and climbs stone steps to cross a carpet of pine needles There are many places for rest and several wooden bridges along the trail There is also a panoramic platform where tourists can watch the tributaries of Iskar River and the opposite high mounts covered with scary stone screes A light magnitude 2.8 earthquake hit 6 km (3.7 mi) away from Samokov, Sofia,  Bulgaria 2025 at 3.35 pm local time (Europe/Sofia GMT +3) The depth of the quake could not be determined but is assumed to be shallow.The quake was reported felt by some people near the epicenter.