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Source: akmu Frontpage photo: © Anjo Kan | Dreamstime FreshPublishers © 2005-2025 FreshPlaza.com An accomplished classical violinist is offering an alternative to life in the ghetto Text by BORYANA DZHAMBAZOVAPhotos by DOBRIN KASHAVELOVin Sliven This article is part of the Breaking out: Stories of Roma empowerment special report, presented by the Roma Foundation for Europe Bulgaria — The train tracks that carve through the Bulgarian city of Sliven mark more than just the town’s geography; they define a stark divide in its population On one side is the Nadezhda quarter — or “Hope” in English —  home to roughly 20,000 Roma residents Along with the population of nearby towns and villages the Sliven district has the highest concentration of Roma in the country People in the neighborhood face a reality shaped by poverty limited access to health care and education generations here have been held back by early marriages and high dropout rates from school with many of them leaving the country to seek seasonal jobs Yet some have found hope on the other side of the tracks Not the Street offers classical music education to Roma children It was set up by musician Georgi Kalaidzhiev in 2008 and provides lessons in a wide variety of instruments Kalaidzhiev’s initiative has already trained more than 300 children While some students commute from nearby villages most live just across the train tracks in Nadezhda seeing in the school’s offerings an alternative to life in a ghetto music has offered a path to a different future: Though not every student at the Music Not the Street school goes on to pursue a professional career many continue their education in music schools or even at the National Music Academy in Sofia I would have aimlessly wandered the streets,” says Tsvetelina Hristova a 21-year-old violinist who now plays part-time with the Sliven Symphony Orchestra.  Hristova came back to work as a trainer at the music school Her goal is to inspire more Roma girls to “continue their education without any fear so that they do not need to think about marriage so early.”  Since it was founded more than 15 years ago Not the Street has grown from humble beginnings in Georgi Kalaidzhiev’s sister’s basement to taking up an entire building was born and raised in the same Roma quarter he played in concert halls across the world until he settled down in Germany in 1993 to become a concertmaster in the town of Giessen But he never forgot where he came from: Since he started the music school he has traveled back to Nadezhda to visit and tutor the students every few months The project’s toughest test is to help break down stereotypes about the Roma community sometimes coming from Roma families themselves “I was one of those children who grew up in Nadezhda,” he said “But playing the violin took me all around the country and abroad.”  He added that his talent with the violin eventually landed him a job in the music industry in Germany “I wanted to pay it forward and introduce classical music to other children in the neighborhood so it can allow them similar opportunities to the ones I was afforded,” he said 13-year-old Zlatko Angelov is determined to follow in Kalaidzhiev’s footsteps and make a name for himself in the world of classical music “I always dreamed of becoming a violin player,” he says.  He has already played in some of the biggest concert halls in Bulgaria joined the Sliven Symphony Orchestra in several performances and along with other music school students taken part in several concerts in Geneva and Strasbourg in September the violin is the dearest to my heart — from its shape and sound to the beauty of the music it creates,” he said Zlatko’s teacher Radka Kuseva refers to him as “our big hope,” describing him as a promising young musician with a bright music career ahead of him.  Kuseva has been coaching Zlatko since he was six And the goal is to train him — and others like him — on more than classical music: The school wants to “teach them about the discipline of learning to offer them a chance to leave the neighborhood,” Kuseva said.  “We would like to show them that they are capable Despite its ambitions and individual success stories Kalaidzhiev’s school still faces challenges.  “Some of the participants do not attend classes regularly as they have problems at home or their parents are not so supportive of their music training,” Kuseva explained Roma families can be quite conservative about allowing their children to study elsewhere — especially girls: For instance people frowned upon the fact that Hristova the violinist with the Sliven Symphony Orchestra went to study in a music high school in Burgas But the more success stories Roma people encounter the more inclined they are to let their kids study “The school … shows us that there really is hope for Hope,” Hristova said the Synod of the Bulgarian Patriarchate convened for the canonical election of the new Metropolitan of Sliven Bishop Arsenij of Znepol was elected as Metropolitan of Sliven by the Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church He garnered support from Metropolitans Gregory of Veliko Tarnovo Metropolitan Grigorij of Vratsa announced the election of Bishop Ignatij of Znepol as Metropolitan of Sliven Metropolitan Gregory announced the election result: a total of 12 ballots were cast with 7 votes for Bishop Arsenij of Znepol to be the new Metropolitan of Sliven Metropolitan Gregory of Vratsa officially declared Bishop Arsenij of Znepol as canonically elected Metropolitan of Sliven extending heartfelt wishes for a successful and God-pleasing ministry A car once used by Pope Francis during his 2014 visit to Bethlehem is being transformed into a mobile.. the Monastery of Saint Vlash in Albania hosted a festal Divine Liturgy on the.. Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece presided over the festal Great Vespers at the historic.. The holy Great Martyr Irene was born in the city of Magedon in Persia during the fourth century Archbishop Elpidophoros of America arrived at Saint Nicholas Ranch and Retreat Center in Dunlap 2025—the Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women—Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew presided over the Patriarchal and Concelebratory Divine.. (function() { window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { listeners: [] cb) { window.mc4wp.listeners.push( { event : evt callback: cb } ); } } }})(); © 2023 OrthodoxTimes.com - All rights reserved Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website These cookies do not store any personal information Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website The greenhouse cherries have ripened in the Sliven village of Samuilovo chairman of the "Bulgarian Peach" Association in Sliven The owner of the greenhouse of nearly 3 acres is already picking the fruits and the wholesale price per kilogram of cherries is 50 leva farmers started picking cherries around April 26 the wholesale price was 32 leva per kilogram The cold weather in early April this year forced fruit growers from the region to light fires in their gardens in an attempt to protect the trees from the cold More news from Bulgaria in addition to contributing to the cultural diversity of the European Union they have also contributed significantly to European security said Sliven Deputy Regional Governor Fatme Mustafova during a local conference as part of BTA's Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills project The conference took place at the BTA National Press Club here on Friday.  Mustafova empahasized that the key word is sustainable namely sustainable development in all aspects of citizens' lives She pointed out that it is important that such forums as today's provide an opportunity for dialogue between different institutions "This will certainly improve the process of shaping future policies of the European Union We all know about the challenges that the European Union and Bulgaria face," Mustafova said She commented on the development of the regions in the context of the European cohesion policy "This is a very important topic and a key instrument for the European Union's investment policy A significant amount of funding is allocated to it – nearly one-third of the EU’s total budget It is implemented not only through the Cohesion Fund but also through the Regional Development Fund and the Social Fund" adding that the aim is to achieve real results in response to real needs BTA's Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills project aims to raise public awareness and foster open dialogue about cohesion policy and the implementation of the EU's policy priorities The project kicked off with a conference in Veliki Preslav in November 2024 The schedule of conferences until the end of September 2025 includes events in the following cities: Blagoevgrad Cross-border conferences will be held in Belgrade The project builds on the Europe in the Balkans: A Common Future and Europe in Bulgaria: A Common Future projects Contacts +359 2 9262 210 By accepting cookies you can enjoy a better experience while browsing pages HOT: » What kind of news would you like to see more of? A severe storm accompanied by hail struck Sliven and surrounding areas last evening Reports from the Regional Directorate for Combating Hailstorms indicate that the "Rechitsa" quarter and parts of the western municipality were the hardest hit The hailstones ranged in size from hazelnut to walnut impacting residential areas and agricultural land alike The storm resulted in power outages in the eastern part of Sliven's villa area with repair crews from "Electrorazpradelenie Yug" (power distribution south) mobilized to address the disruptions authorities received reports of a fallen tree obstructing the road between Chintulovo and Malko Chochoveni villages maintaining communication with local officials to coordinate response efforts and assess further damage the hail wrought havoc on peach crops across several villages in Sliven Entire productions of corn and other crops in Mechkarevo village were completely devastated while peach plantations in Gavrailovo village also suffered extensive damage many of whom lack insurance due to distrust of insurance companies expressed frustration over the perceived inadequacy of anti-hail measures The aftermath of the storm in Lovech region and power outages compounded the situation Torrential rains combined with hail caused flooding in streets with Lovech center particularly affected by the inundation The local authorities reported a rainfall of 25 liters per square meter in just 20 minutes the mayor convened a crisis headquarters in response to unprecedented hail damage sustained overnight The storm left Arbanasi without electricity for three hours and inflicted substantial damage on over 100 vehicles in Sheremetya necessitating closure for the day while assessments continue Authorities in Veliko Tarnovo are grappling with the aftermath of the hailstorm which saw hailstones as large as walnuts pummel the area within a short span compounding the widespread destruction of property and crops Efforts are underway to repair the extensive material damage particularly in local car dealerships where numerous vehicles were rendered inoperable overnight "We are focused on repairing the damage as swiftly as possible sustained significant damage," commented Ivaylo Zdravkov with a school reporting structural damage to its roof prompting cautionary measures to prevent access to the affected building until further inspections are completed We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria A 9-year-old girl has died at a school in Veliko Tarnovo and an investigation is underway to determine the cause of death which will be in effect from February 3 to 11 Residents of Lovech region staged a second protest over the extended electricity crisis that disrupted their holidays a man with a history of mental illness has been detained after killing his father and severely injuring his mother in their home a tragic road accident in Lovech resulted in the death of an elderly pedestrian 7 railway tracks were reported stolen between the Sliven and Gurkovo stations 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 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 25-year-old man is in critical condition following an accident at the amusement park in Yambol 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 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 Metropolitan Arsenij of Sliven welcomed Mr for an official meeting at the reception hall of the Metropolis Ambassador Lymberopoulos expressed his deep respect for the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and shared his positive impressions of his time in Sliven He conveyed his hope for continued strong relations between Greece and Bulgaria as well as between their respective peoples Metropolitan Arsenios wished the ambassador success in his diplomatic efforts Lymberopoulos with a painting of the Church of Saint Sophia in Sliven and an album showcasing the city’s churches © 2023 OrthodoxTimes.com - All rights reserved. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. The page you requested could not be found There could be an error in the URL you entered into your browser why not take a look at some of the other great sections on the Express website: If it’s still a mystery don’t hesitate to contact us here order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive Daily Express uses notifications to keep you updated Representatives of various sectors who have worked on projects related to the EU's Cohesion Policy participated in a joint conference at the National Press Club of the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) in Sliven on Friday The event was part of BTA's "Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills" project Sliven is an example of the constructive power of awareness, of knowledge about the achievements of others and about one's own achievements and development opportunities, said BTA Director General Kiril Valchev "The concrete proof of this is that compared to 2023 and 2024 we see 50% more information specifically from Sliven Municipality on a variety of topics My observation is that Sliven is in the top three municipalities that continuously inform the public on all kinds of issues through BTA on a daily basis," Valchev emphasized the Sliven Municipality has been nominated three times for a Golden Key which is a study on access to public information Sliven Mayor Stefan Radev said that Cohesion is at the core of the idea of ​​the European Union when a major debate is taking place in Europe about the future of cohesion policy" He noted that it is very important to hear the position of local authorities and that it must be adopted by national authorities as well "We cannot sacrifice or compromise with cohesion policy at the expense of other policies," Radev said Bulgarians must be confident that, in addition to contributing to the cultural diversity of the European Union, they have also contributed significantly to European security, being an external border, said Sliven Deputy Regional Governor Fatme Mustafova She empahasized that the key word is sustainable The Sliven branch of the Varna Medical University has been training students in two sought-after programmes, Nursing and Midwifery, for 12 years, said Donka Sultanova She emphasized that the branch itself is a very useful project that was opened with the assistance of the Sliven Municipality 106 of whom are in the Nursing and the remaining 60 in the Midwifery programmes" She pointed out that 100% of the students now have a career in their field of study only a few graduates have chosen to work abroad All those who have graduated and are here [in Bulgaria] work in hospitals kindergartens and social institutions," she stressed the museum is a cultural and scientific institution and the Sliven Regional History Museum has been paying extremely close attention to education in recent years He pointed out that in addition to a modern interactive base the museum also has an educator working with children’s groups on various educational initiatives The focus is primarily on the game form of working with children so that they can more easily absorb theoretical knowledge of history adding that they also organize lectures and activities in schools and kindergartens He emphasised that the Sliven Regional History Museum is an annual host of an international student internship in partnership with the New Bulgarian University.  The UK's biggest ever benefit scam was exposed by a lone detective in a quiet Balkan city after he saw the fraudsters 'living like barons' a detective from the city of Sliven in Bulgaria first became suspicious after he noticed locals sporting designer clothing and a huge increase in the number of properties being built He launched his own investigation into the apparent influx of cash into the town and soon discovered that thousands of residents were receiving up to £2,500 a month in benefits from the UK despite never stepping foot in the country Mr Panayotov alerted the British authorities who later discovered the scale of deceptive scam which was being run by a gang of Bulgarian fraudsters who raked in £54 million by churning out fake documents to trick DWP officials They appeared in court on Tuesday for the first of their three-day sentencing hearing at Wood Green Crown Court Despite its relatively small population of 80,000 Sliven is the eight largest city in Bulgaria which boasts a population of over one million It became well known for its textile industry with the country's first mill founded there in 1834 But the area has since faced years of decline and now houses one of the largest ghettos in Europe Mr Panayotov added: 'I received information from contacts that hundreds of people were receiving social benefits from the United Kingdom using the weaknesses in the British social system There have also been cases of gangs trafficking young women from villages around the city and forcing them to work as prostitutes in other popular European countries Mr Panayotov told The Telegraph that he noticed the small town was being 'transformed' by a sudden influx of cash, with many of the buildings being turned into huge 'mansions'.  He said: 'I first became suspicious when I started to see the influx of money into Sliven. I wondered how these people had got such money.' 'When I received that information I started to check myself and began my own investigation. I eventually concluded that we were talking about maybe £200 million every year from the UK.'  Mr Panayotov claimed the gang had at least 6,000 customers who each paid a one-off commission of between £500 and £800. They would then receive on average between £2,000 and £2,500 a month for two months, he added.  After this point, the gang would take the cash for themselves, and over time they became so rich they started 'living like barons,' Mr Panayotov said.  He added: 'The money coming into Sliven transformed the area. It did so in terms of property, but also people were buying designer clothes, and opening shops, casinos. 'I gave the information to the British police and they launched their own investigation into the gang.' After being tipped off by Mr Panayotov, DWP investigators searched the homes of the gang and found shopping bags crammed with designer goods, Rolex watches, jackets and wads of cash. Bundles of cash stuffed in shopping bags and suitcases, a luxury car and designer goods including watches, jackets and glasses were also found during a raid on their properties, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.  The group appeared to be hiding in plain sight - posting photos on social media smiling and posing behind the counter of Antonia's Foods supermarket in Wood Green. One of the hubs was behind a functioning corner shop selling groceries. Since the arrests, Mr Panayotov says that many people in the town 'hate' him. The British embassy in Bulgaria on the other hand invited the detective to celebrate at the late Queen’s Birthday party to say thank you for his hard work.  The enormous haul of money gained from their 'complex financial web' of claims was laundered through a number of accounts, then withdrawn in cash - with £750,000 in bank notes found stuffed in suitcases at one of their homes. The vast sums made in the fraud were laundered through a network of bank accounts, Wood Green Crown Court heard. Tom Little KC, prosecuting, told the start of a three day sentencing hearing yesterday: 'The offending in this case was well organised and was committed on an extraordinarily large scale over a number of years by these defendants and by others. This is the biggest fraud ever detected upon the DWP.' Mr Little told the court how gang members forged letters from local primary and secondary schools as part of the swindle. 'Forged letters from schools would be used if it was said that there were children part of the claim because that potentially boosted the value of the claim. 'Children as I've indicated who either did not exist or lived in Bulgaria were involved in some of the claims that allowed the value to be increased.' He said people who had never even been to the UK benefited from the scam: 'They may have travelled here for a short period of time to support the claim before returning to Bulgaria with the claim remaining ongoing. 'Some were already here, made the claim and then departed. Some never even travelled here at all.' Gang members used their Photoshop skills to create fake photos of ineligible claimants stood in front of doors to imaginary houses, the court heard. 'Stoyanov refers to having someone who works with Photoshop who does 'magic tricks', said Mr Little. 'Todorova advises taking photographs in front of the house for which the false claim is being made and stated: 'They need to take three pictures in different poses and in Photoshop they will put him in front of the door and they will open it'.' Mr Little referred to messages and photos shared between the defendants mocking the 'naivety' of the DWP. 'Images are exchanged on the Deluxe WhatsApp Group that poke fun at the naivety of the DWP in relation to the fraudulent claims,' Mr Little said. Ali, Nikolova, Stoyanov, Todorova, and Paneva, all admitted fraud and money laundering offences dating from between October 2016 and May 2021. While under investigation Ali fled the country to Bulgaria. But he was extradited back to the UK on 25 February 2023. Ben Reid, Specialist Prosecutor for the CPS, earlier said: 'This case is the largest benefit fraud prosecution ever brought to the courts in England and Wales. 'For a number of years, these defendants conspired to commit industrial-scale fraud against the Universal Credit system, costing the taxpayer more than £50 million. 'Submitting thousands of false claims, the organised criminals enriched themselves from government funds designed to protect and help the most vulnerable people in our society. 'This was a complex and challenging case which required close and effective working between CPS prosecutors, the Department for Work and Pensions and our international partners in both Bulgaria and through the UK desk at Eurojust, to dismantle and successfully prosecute the organised crime group. 'The guilty pleas entered by all five defendants, reflects the strength of the evidence against them. 'The CPS Proceeds of Crime Division and DWP will now pursue confiscation proceedings against the defendants, to remove from them any available criminal benefit from this enterprise.' 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How Britain's biggest benefits scam was exposed by lone detectiveCommenting on this article has endedNewest{{#isModerationStatus}}{{moderationStatus}} new pricing for water supply and sewage services takes effect across Bulgaria The changes vary significantly across the country with some regions seeing price hikes while others benefit from reductions the most considerable increase is a 19% rise bringing the price to 4.70 leva per cubic meter This increase follows a 20% hike in Sofia just three months ago The same percentage increase is applied to Plovdiv and Burgas as well Dobrich sees a 15% decrease in the cost of water reducing the price to 3.70 leva per cubic meter The lowest price can be found in Pazardzhik where residents pay just 3 leva per cubic meter Razgrad and Silistra have the highest rates for water with prices exceeding 6 leva per cubic meter the rates are almost the same as those in Razgrad water prices now hover around 5 leva per cubic meter the new price stands at 4.65 leva per cubic meter Many locals find the price hike unreasonable especially given that the water in Sliven is supplied by gravity and does not require treatment Despite a protest in early December in front of the ViK building the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC) approved the increase explained that the price rise is largely due to the rising cost of electricity which is necessary for pumping water as the Asenovets Dam is not being fully utilized a municipal councilor and a key figure in organizing opposition to the increase announced that there will be a public discussion involving the mayor of Sliven The outcome of these discussions will determine whether further protests are planned These new rates will remain in effect for the entire year 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 with 45.2% of those aged 16–74 having bought goods or services via the internet in the past year 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 National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology forecasts that May will bring temperatures ranging from 2°C to 33°C across Bulgaria a trend that has persisted for over 30 years A Romanian family paid 3,084.60 leva (1,500 euros) for medical treatment at the Burgas University Hospital following a serious road accident The third Bulgarian helicopter for air emergency medical assistance has arrived at the regional base in Sliven the Centre for Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) said on Facebook on Thursday Earlier, HEMS had reported that the helicopter was ready for flight in Brindisi and was scheduled to make a stop in Thessaloniki The "Zelen Mladost" Association signals that the life of the former mayor of the "Mladost" District Desislava Ivancheva is in danger to treat her asthma and her teeth that are falling out; to change the environment to a more favorable one More news from Crimes A griffon vulture chick hatched in the Sinite Kamani (The Blue Stones) Nature Park of Sliven the Park Directorate reported on Wednesday both parents play important role in the rearing of the nestling Nature Park staff are providing the vulture pair with sufficient amounts of safe food to ensure the chick is successfully fed.  Record numbers of vultures were reported in May in the Sinite Kamani Nature Park the Green Balkans Association and the Fund for Wild Flora and Fauna have been working systematically for years to return the vultures which has led to the recovery of the griffon vulture population in the eastern section of the Balkan Range and specifically in the Sinite Kamani Nature Park About 35 years ago griffon vultures were at the edge of their survival in Bulgaria They were an endangered species in the country At that time their population was less than 10 pairs In 2020 a total of 106 pairs of griffon vultures were recorded along the Arda River Valley in the eastern Rhodope Mountains For travel to the United States on a temporary basis For foreign citizens who want to live permanently in the United States Outside of Bulgaria: 1-888-407-4747 or 202-647-5225 Learn more about quality higher-education opportunities in the U.S that you will not find anywhere else in the world Find the closest American Space in Bulgaria where you can connect with the U.S military service members currently deployed at the Novo Selo Join Training Area celebrated the arrival of spring in true Bulgarian style They attended the March 1st festivities at the “Virgin and Hayk Papazyan” Kindergarten in Sliven where they joined workshops with children of different ages to learn how to make traditional Bulgarian martenitsa and enjoyed Bulgarian folk dances and songs service members engage on a regular basis in charity activities in Sliven region as a sign of appreciation for the hospitality of their Bulgarian host communities they visited three kindergartens and schools in Sliven region including the “Virdzhin Papazyan” Kindergarten and delivered over $1,000 USD worth of toys and school supplies By | 6 March, 2019 | Topics: Events, News | Tags: , We use cookies to make our website work better and improve your experience The Bishop of Znepole Arseny is the new Metropolitan of eparchy of Sliven The metropolitans of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church appointed him by a vote of seven to five for the other candidate The results of the vote were announced Sunday by the Locum Tenens of the Holy Synod Arseny of Sliven (secular name Atanas Dimitrov Lazarov) was born on November 18 He graduated with flying colours from the St John of Rila Seminary in Sofia and later in theology from the University of Plovdiv in 2009 2007 the Metropolitan of Plovdiv Nicholas tonsured him with the name of Arseny at the St Ordained hierodeacon and later hieromonk in 2008 Elevated to the rank of archimandrite in 2009 at the Dormition of the Theotokos cathedral in Plovdiv by Metropolitan Nicholas Served as parochial priest in the villages of Borets and Govedare Appointed spiritual supervisor of Plovdiv diocese in 2010 and rector of the metropolitan church of St 2014 and ordained Vicar Bishop of the Metropolitan of Plovdiv on July 6 the same year The presence of the gendarmerie is in the Roma quarter "Nadezhda" in Sliven after a fight a specialized operation was conducted in the neighborhood to protect public order and security This was announced by the press center of the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs - Sliven The incident took place on the evening of August 10 at “Krali Marko” because of loud music Bottles and stones were thrown by the groups involved in the conflict When the conflict was brought under control 168 motor vehicles and animal-drawn vehicles were checked 24 acts for violation of the Road Traffic Act (non-use of a child seat installed film to darken the front windows technical malfunction and others) and 31 slips were drawn up According to the Ordinance of the Municipality of Sliven four acts were drawn up - two suits for carts were seized for movement in a prohibited road section Public order and security operations in the neighborhood are regular and ongoing The ad-free version is ready for purchase on iOS mobile app today we couldn't find that page";var n=e.querySelector("h2");return n&&n.remove(),{staticContent:e,title:t}},d=function(e){var t=document.createElement("button");return t.innerText=e,t.classList.add("error-page-button"),t},f=function(e){var t=document.createElement("div");t.id="recirculation-404",t.classList.add("brand-hint-bg");var n="\n \n \n \n \n \n '.concat(e,' Tick here if you would like us to send you the author’s response Mission Bulgaria Good Neighbor projects continue to support Bulgaria and Bulgarians.” ~ U.S Ambassador Mustafa at a ribbon cutting ceremony to inaugurate a new Sliven housing unit built for elderly residents with special needs Elderly citizens with special needs now have the option of residing in a new housing unit specially designed for them Embassy Sofia in partnership with Sliven Municipality Ambassador Herro Mustafa and Sliven Mayor Stefan Radev inaugurated a new U.S Government-built $265,000 USD two-level building in central Sliven designed to provide sheltered housing for elderly with special needs This new “family type” facility will provide a home environment Three social workers and three occupational therapists will work at the facility to support the residents Sliven Municipality provided all furniture and equipment for this joint project Mission Bulgaria Good Neighbor projects continue to support Bulgaria and Bulgarians We have completed multiple kindergarten and high school projects in this area and not far from here we are currently renovating Sinchets Kindergarten We have funded multiple projects throughout the country Our cooperative efforts partner our Embassy and municipalities across Bulgaria We rise together,” Ambassador Mustafa said at the grand opening ceremony government has invested more than $6 million in community support projects in Bulgaria Our Good Neighbor Program brings together American military troops and Bulgarian municipalities to collaborate on significant projects government also partners with non-governmental organizations and local Bulgarian firms to complete projects that support Bulgaria Bishop Arseniy of Znepol was elected as the new Metropolitan of Sliven He received 7 votes by the Metropolitans of the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church who is Secretary General of the Holy Synod The results were announced by the temporary head of the Holy Synod Bishop Arseniy of Znepol (Atanas Dimitrov Lazarov) was born on November 18 He completed his primary education in the village of Osetenovo He was tonsured a monk by Metropolitan Nikolay of Plovdiv on August 11 the Holy Synod will convene a Patriarchal Electoral Church Council to elect a new Patriarch Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is expected to arrive in Sofia for the election 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. english@bnr.bg BTA will publish the names of the top-of-the-list candidates of every party for all constituencies for the June 9 parliamentary elections The information about the candidates is provided by the respective party/coalition the candidates themselves and other official sources of information A total of 31 parties and coalitions have registered for the June 9 according to the Constituency Election Commission The order follows the sequential numbers on the ballots as drawn by the Central Election Commission: The file could not be found for a number of reasons such as the file being moved or deleted. Please check your spelling and if you still can't get to the right page try heading to the homepage for a look around If you still have problems, try contacting us and we'll do what we can to help you. Click here to get back to where you came from have issued an urgent appeal for information regarding the whereabouts of 18-year-old Gergana Georgieva Tsandeva According to the regional office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs was last seen on February 28 in the vicinity of the city garden in Sliven Gergana's parents notified authorities on February 29 after failing to establish contact with their daughter since February 28 they reported that Gergana has not responded to their calls Described as wearing a black puffer jacket Gergana's disappearance has raised alarm in the community The Sliven Regional Administration urges anyone with information about her whereabouts to come forward and assist in locating her Individuals with relevant information are encouraged to contact emergency services at 112 or use the provided contact number 0898460048 individuals can reach out to the nearest branch of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to provide any leads that may aid in the search for Gergana Tsandeva We remind you that Ivana Georgieva from Dupnitsa is still missing The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays The cross pinnacle on the Tower of Jesus Christ will be ready to receive visitors in 2026 on the centennial of Gaudi’s death Now you can get your wine in Talence by paying directly in Bitcoin That’s because the state has to spend money on updating the railway infrastructure rather than subsidizing the cost of the popular pass Steffen Romstöck said that he would respect the residents’ choice and would take over the helm of the municipality which will come into force from 1 January 2025 Rethinking renewable energy sources for the urban landscape But operating them is still illegal under the country’s legislation can inform and inspire communities and entrepreneurs that still feel trepidation at the prospect of energy transition it has a unique modular design that allows it to be shortened and lengthened like a train that’s the promise made by the mayor of Paris the district has long been known as the hangout spot for the artsy crowds Hostal de Pinós is located in the geographical centre of the autonomous region the ranking considers several distinct but essential factors these quiet areas will now be available on all main routes in the country The academic institution shows a deeper understanding of the well-being of its students We talk with the Mayor of Sliven about implemented projects tourism prospects and the “merger” with Yambol With a university education in Economics and Industrial Management and a master’s in accounting he has worked in the private sector as the CEO and CFO of a large company and as auditor in the financial sphere He was reelected for a second term in 2019                      Aerial view of Sliven almost 65 percent of Sliven voters supported your second mandate at the October 2019 local elections’ run-off What were your achievements  during your first term as mayor that helped you earn their confidence again I think the citizens of Sliven trusted our team for a lot of things Sliven was in a very difficult financial state and our main task during my first term in office was to stabilize the budget I think that most of our fellow citizens understood what the challenge was and what difficulties the municipality had to overcome I think that when a person talks frankly about problems with people the united actions of all of us have allowed us to overcome this crisis we were able to carry out major projects that had been talked about for years in our municipality with no apparent progress - in terms of transport We also caught up with the housing rehabilitation program I take this opportunity to thank our fellow citizens for their support This can be deduced from the record low unemployment rates in the municipality at the moment If we take the reduction of unemployment and the increase of jobs to be the first stage in my opinion it is time for a qualitative change - ie as well as our plans for construction of an industrial park near Sliven Our joint actions with the Municipality of Yambol to represent the two regions as a single economic entity with which to attract the attention of investors Sliven has great potential for future development for its Revival period traditions and for being the cradle of industrial production in Bulgaria Logically - cultural tourism is one of the most attractive types for our city we intend to invest in our museums: in the houses-museums of Dobri Chintulov Dobri Zhelyazkov’s factory - the first textile factory in Bulgaria Sliven has an easily accessible and beautiful mountain The Sinite Kamani (Blue Stones) Nature Park is located next to the town and is one of the favorite places of people not only in Sliven We have a project to renovate the cable car that leads to Karandila - a favorite destination for tourists the Sliven Mineral Baths was a famous spa resort it has a potential that we do not utilize fully I am convinced that there is a bright future ahead of spa-tourism in Sliven I have already mentioned our intention to invest in tourism infrastructure but the biggest projects to come are related to the environment this is the big project to overhaul the water supply and sewage infrastructure putting into operation the drinking water treatment plant We have been working on this project for three years and in 2020 the actual work will begin We continue to invest in transport through the implementation of another environmental project New trolleybuses and electric buses in Sliven are being procured in line with fulfilling our policy of improving the transport infrastructure and maintaining a high environmental standard We have no information on specific problems created by wind farms there are many wind generators established in the territory of Sliven Municipality The interest in renewable energy production continues to be high I'm glad there is such an interest and we as a municipality support clean energy production We have a common initiative with the Municipality of Yambol to represent the two municipalities as one region It is very important to highlight our intention and the commitment of the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works to widen the road between Sliven and Yambol so as to become a 4-lane The next programming period will address this issue which would allow the two cities to actually work as one big city We are looking for partnerships with other cities in the European Union together with Nis (Serbia) and Bydgoszcz (Poland) Bydgoszcz is a city that Sliven had relations with even before the democratic changes We hope that this relationship will be deepened we will exchange good practices and experience with the well-developed cities of Nis and Bydgoszcz I am nursed with love for the mountain and for Karandila I am not sure if your readers know that Sliven has one of the richest collections of works of art in Bulgaria I am sure that everyone can find something for themselves in the art galleries of Sliven It is a curious fact that in the beginning of the 20th century Sliven was the city with the most millionaires per capita in Bulgaria due to the rapid development of the textile industry then which continues to be the backbone of the Sliven industry to this day and Sliven was the capital of textile production Today the houses of the Sliven industrialists of that time are still there for you to see The 10th European Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns (ESCT) sets the stage for stronger cooperation between the EU national and local level to fast track Europe's transition to climate neutrality Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces An interview with the Mayor of a Polish city that seeks to reinvent itself An interview with the newly elected ICLEI President and Mayor of Malmö A conversation with the Mayor of Lisbon about the spirit and dimensions of innovation present in the Portuguese capital The Christmas Tank without the Reindeer arrived on the lot at the Specialist Training Center to hand out gifts and goodie bags to military and civilian children The idea for the Christmas celebration came from the commander of the Center - Colonel Lubomir Vachev the leadership of the military formation gives the children of military personnel the opportunity to see where their parents work Santa's tank caused great interest among children who came to see the unusual carriage of the Good Old Man Follow Novinite.com on Twitter and Facebook Write to us at editors@novinite.com Информирайте се на Български - Novinite.bg Turkey installed a 280-ton tank 2,200 meters deep in the sea that will collect Black Sea gas coming from the wells German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall has offered to sell 88 second-hand Leopard battle tanks to Ukraine The offer apparently includes training in Germany according to documents obtained by the DPA The village of Santa Claus is just one of the reasonsThe climate in Finland is harsh Essential digital access to quality FT journalism on any device Complete digital access to quality FT journalism with expert analysis from industry leaders Complete digital access to quality analysis and expert insights complemented with our award-winning Weekend Print edition Terms & Conditions apply Discover all the plans currently available in your country See why over a million readers pay to read the Financial Times Bulgaria is filled with interesting towns and villages that don't get much mention in the guidebooks Bulgaria — Bulgaria is filled with interesting towns and villages that don’t get much mention in the guidebooks I wish I had more time to explore towns such as Sliven a river town of 125,000 in the foothills of the East Balkan Mountains Unlike Veliko Tarnovo where everything revolves around tourism Sliven is a clean and pleasant town that happens to attract a few tourists but exists mainly for a population of middle-class locals and students attending a small technical university I’m here because of a San Francisco organization, Kiva.org which links people like us with a little extra cash with entrepreneurs in developing countries who need loans Sliven has a large Roma (Gypsy) population and we’ve made loans of $25 each to a traveling sock saleswoman and a couple who sell firewood Here’s what some things cost in Sliven: Bulgaria’s tourist areas are bargains compared to those in Western Europe but prices are even lower in towns that are a bit off the beaten track Double room with breakfast at the three-star Hotel Toma: $42 Mini-bus to or from Veliko Tarnavo (two hours): $5.60 a Peace Corp volunteer who manages the loan program here to visit our borrowers and find out more about their businesses a town we probably would have missed if not for the Kiva connection Bulgaria is a bargain destination for travelers especially in towns like this one that are a bit off the beaten path Our room at the Hotel Toma (www.hoteltoma.com) is $42 The Toma is a combination restaurant and six-room guesthouse in an 1856 house originally owned by a Polish military officer Rooms are furnished with built-in wooden wardrobes but it’s a good place to soak up the culture Many people here worked in sock factories during the Communist years and an Italian apparel manufacturer is the largest employer Town life centers around a pedestrian mall lined with outdoor cafes and restaurants Men sit on benches and play chess in a park near a market where I spotted bags of homemade paprika and bottles of honey for 40-50 cents The weather’s warm and it stays light until around 9 p.m We had dinner with a group of Peace Corps workers at an outdoor restaurant fish kabobs and a bottle of the local Marud red wine literally on the other side of the railroad tracks is the Roma ghetto where most of Sliven’s Gypsy population lives you’ll see the other side of Bulgaria,” Greg Kelly told me As much as I’m enjoying this side of Sliven I’m looking forward to what’s next Stay secure and make sure you have the best reading experience possible by upgrading your browser A serious accident occurred near the junction of the Sliven village of Sotirya They were traveling in a horse carriage and were hit by a jeep The cause of the accident was excessive speed This was stated by the district prosecutor of Sliven Veselin Gangalov at an extraordinary briefing yesterday The driver of a car that hit a cart in the early hours of May 6 did not adjust the speed to the visibility conditions in a section of the road between Sliven and the junction for the village of Sotirya a jeep overtook a horse carriage/cart in which four men were traveling the initial data from the inspection - the damage to the car and the carrage give reason to believe that the speed was between 120 and 150 km/h The driver was tested on the spot and field tests failed to report the presence of alcohol and drugs The 50-year-old man from Sliven was administratively punished several times The horse carriage was not signaled in any way and they on the other had were not wearing reflective vests They traveled to Sliven from a populated place where they probably celebrated the holiday The road where the accident happened has a speed limit of 90 km/h head of the Security Police Department at the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs - Sliven The road has recently been asphalted and marked the main factors for the accident were three - speed reduced visibility and unmarked road vehicle and passengers The control over these vehicles in the district has been strengthened 53 drivers have been sanctioned because the horse carriage werenot marked 35 have been sanctioned for driving at night without reflective vests The case is qualified as extremely serious and a judgment will be made as to whether a request for a permanent measure of "Detention in custody" will be submitted He was charged with recklessly causing the death of more than one person a crime punishable by five to 20 years in prison A fatal accident on the Dobrich-Silistra road claimed the lives of two high school graduates and left two others injured A 9-year-old girl from Poland was struck by a car while crossing a footpath in Primorsko yesterday around 5:30 p.m Bulgaria's Supreme Court of Cassation has upheld a six-year prison sentence for Valentin V Two individuals lost their lives in a tragic accident that occurred on Thursday morning in Burgas Mayor Stefan Radev explained that local authorities are looking into ways to cut consumption find new revenue streams and sustainable solutions to energy production Yesterday, Stefan Radev, the mayor of Sliven announced that the sharp rise in energy prices will affect the local administration heavily He explained that according to preliminary estimations the municipal yearly electricity bill would double or triple the city’s budget cannot handle the increase and the administration needs to find ways to reduce electricity costs find new streams of revenue and find sustainable energy solutions Mayor Stefan Radev explained that they are working on all three approaches The current European energy crisis affects everyone running thousands of street lights and electric vehicles The sharp increase could also threaten the economic bounce back after months of lockdown This is due to the fact that electricity costs factor into practically every commodity and service available This is especially true for municipalities running razor-thin margins due to years of austerity The city of Sliven’s current yearly electricity bill sits at a cool 500,000 euros it could reach the crushing 2 million euros at current energy prices The only way to keep prices down is for local authorities to act quickly in all three domains: Bulgaria is gripped by massive protests from trade unions and businesses alike as the forecast utility price increase threatens to wreak havoc on the country’s recovering post-Covid economy the head of the legal department in the Bulgarian Industrial Association explained that the European Green Deal is knocking on Bulgaria’s door: “And we are still in our pyjamas train operators and public transport are all threatened by the energy rise the government is proposing limited measures in the form of cash rebates for businesses The trade unions and syndicates have a counteroffer the National Energy Commission should purchase the energy directly from producers and sell it at a thin profit to blunt the price jump for the whole country A specialized operation against domestic crime and vote-buying has been going on since midnight in the Sliven region Addresses in Sliven and Nova Zagora were checked and searched Commissioner Dimitar Kikiov summarized the operation so far personal documents and copies of personal documents of other persons who are not residents of the dwelling "One person was detained for possession of 21 packets of methamphetamine police are conducting procedural actions at 3 addresses The action continues together with forestry officials the director of the Plovdiv Customs Office was arrested earlier today for allegedly facilitating a new smuggling route for cigarettes opened fire with a gas pistol near a kindergarten in Sofia's Lyulin district Bulgarian Interior Minister Daniel Mitov has described the case of the man who died in police custody in Kazanlak as “a disgrace” to the Ministry of Interior The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Bulgaria’s Ministry of the Interior on April 22 Nearly 80,000 drivers have been recorded speeding on the streets of Sofia by cameras installed by the Traffic Police according to Commissioner Nikolay Krusharski The identities of the two male bodies discovered near Sofia’s "Iliyantsi" district have been confirmed as 63-year-old twins Ivan and Toma Penkovi An 18-year-old girl who had been reported missing in Haskovo has been found dead 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 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 the emblematic head of security firm functioning as an organized crime group in Bulgaria's Sliven a businessman and president of the former security firm "Club 777" a well known racketeering and extortion group in Southeastern Bulgaria The court in Sliven ruled that Mandev was involved in these crimes in the city of Sliven and abroad from 1998 until he was arrested in 2009 Together with his five accomplices in Club 777 he is found to have committed 60 crimes that translated into a verdict of 40 pages when it was announced Saturday night Mandev's former security firm Club 777 was a regional replica of the two mightiest mafia structures in Bulgaria in the 1990s he has also been sentenced to a fine of BGN 20 000 Three of Mandev's accomplices – Kolyo Ivanov and Selim Kadirov – were sentenced to 11 years in jail had provided an ambulance and a cardiologists in the event that Mandev receives hearth problems during the hearing as has happened during past court sessions The sentences can be appealed before the Burgas Appellate Court within 15 days Donald Trump is set to be sentenced on January 10 in a criminal case involving hush money payments to a porn actor and falsification of business records A recent journalistic investigation has ranked the Bulgarian mafia among the top 10 organized crime syndicates operating in Greece Greek media have reported that Bulgarian and Russian mafia groups are active in the tourist regions of Northern Greece The traditional Karakachan Festival will be held between August 20 and 22 in Karandila locality near the town of Sliven (Southeastern Bulgaria) Last year’s edition of the festival was cancelled because of the coronavirus epidemic the Karakachan people were semi-nomadic shepherds grazing their sheep on natural pastures The organizers of the festival promise a rich cultural programme with the participation of Bulgarian and Greek dance formations a scientific conference on the preservation of Karakachan traditions nearly 20,000 ethnic Karakachans live in Bulgaria The biggest Karakachan community lives in the municipalities of Sliven and Karlovo “On the way to the sea we spent a wonderful day in Sliven One of the most interesting places we visited there was the late antique and medieval fortress Touida."- this is probably how a tourist would start their story about visiting Sliven and this historical landmark located near the central part of the city which is impressive with its well-preserved walls The fortress is located on the Hisarlaka hill which makes it easily accessible to guests and residents of the city Archeologists started the detailed study of Tuidain 1982 residential and farm premises were unearthed Thanks to an epigraphic monument with an inscription that was discovered the fortress’s authentic name - Tuida became known It is believed that as early as the third century a Thracian settlement existed near Hisarlaka The fortress itself was built in the mid-4th century on an area of ​​42 decares "Tuida was used for centuries - during the Roman Empire Byzantium and during the time of medieval Bulgaria Today it is a historical site managed by the municipality of Sliven,” says guide Denitsa Zhecheva "The fortress is situated on a hill and it was an administrative center where the elite of society - the rulers and defenders of the city We also know that there were barracks and the population lived outside the fortress wall They were able to withstand a siege for a long time and in case ofheavy attacks they could flee to the mountain through a secret tunnel that leads to the nearby Novoselska River A curious fact is that archaeologists have discovered a wax candle used by people to light their way has collapsedbut It is to be restored and we all hope that someday tourist will be able to pass through it." Citizens of Slivenoften visit the fortress Animated video shows visitors how people in these lands lived in the past anyone who visits the site can shoot a bow dress in a medieval costume and take photographs as well as learn interesting facts about history life and cuisine of the people of antiquity," says Denitsa Zhecheva make their own souvenir and leave Tuida in a good mood We have focused on presenting ancient crafts like weaving and making wool felt which was used to insulate homes in the past The municipality fully supports all of our cultural and educational initiatives on the territory of the fortress Open classes and activities for children are organized here There is an amphitheater and an outdoor stage Many concerts are held and in 2019 the Stara Zagora Opera performed here.Behind the fortress walls sports events and competitions are also organized Bulgaria’s Minister of Tourism Miroslav Borshosh and Zurab Pololikashvili Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) have officially signed the agreement for Bulgaria to host the 9th Global Conference on Wine Tourism,. The Mini Bulgaria Park is an unusual place for a tourist tour spiritual culture and natural landmarks of Bulgaria meet Gorna Oryahovitsa often remains undeservedly hidden from the eyes of tourists even though it is only about 10 km away from Bulgaria's old capital which lies at the foot of the Balkans on the banks of the. All residents of the Bulgarian village of Gorno Alexandrovo have been urged to leave their homes over the incident in which an ammunition depot exploded near the city of Sliven in Southeastern Bulgaria Tuesday afternoon The blasts at the ammo site near the Petolachkata road junction close to Sliven occurred at 2:40 pm on Tuesday The facility in question is the property of a Sofia-based firm which uses it to dismantle munitions – including shells from the Chelopechene military depot near Sofia that exploded in July 2008 As the explosions at the Bereta Trading depot continued into the evening the authorities moved to evacuate the 630 residents of Gorno Alexandrovo while also considering the evacuation of another nearby village has announced that the Sliven Municipality has immediately activated its plan for reaction in disaster situations He has promised the villagers' homes are already guarded by local police to protect them from looters "Danger could grow greater if there are larger-scale secondary explosions but for the time being this is unlikely," the Sliven Mayor said Director of the Geophysics Institute at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences the blasts near Sliven caused an earthquake with a magnitude of 1.5 on the Richter Scale after earlier the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences announced it had registered no earthquake that might have caused the blasts the blasts did cause panic among the local population with the people mistaking the explosions for an earthquake in the wake of the 5.8-6.0-magnitude earthquake that jolted Sofia and Western Bulgaria on May 22 A massive explosion occurred on Saturday at Shahid Rajaee port near Bandar Abbas A series of powerful earthquakes shook western Turkey on April 23 causing panic among residents but resulting in no fatalities or serious damage A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 struck western Turkey at approximately 12:50 Explosions occurred on April 22 at a military ammunition depot in Russia's Vladimir Oblast you will have a chance to visit the fortress of Tuida near Sliven for free it will open doors for tourists with no entry fee You will be able to see the fortress for free as well between 21st and 25th September when Tuida will join the European Heritage Days initiative The idea of ​​the event is to give more people the opportunity to learn about key historical and cultural landmarks on the Old Continent you will be able to enter Tuidaa without buying a ticket during the Night of the Scientists initiative Between 3 pm and 05:30 pm the visitors will have the opportunity to go back in time and become medieval inhabitants of Sliven Anyone who wants will be able to take a picture with costumes and weapons of the past At 3 pm the curious tourists will be able to learn how the fabrics of the past were painted with indigo you can see a gorge of clothing worn during the Middle Ages and learn more about the costumes of the period 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 International Ecotourism Society (TIES) named the late antique and medieval fortress Tuida the world’s best eco museum The cultural and historical landmark located near the town of Sliven (Southeastern Bulgaria) won two first prizes at the International Ecotourism Society Awards Tuida fortress became a winner in two categories – Best Eco Museum and Best Sustainable Tour Itinerary/Program Nearly 1,000 sites from around 100 countries took part at the competition The prize will be presented during the 16th Annual Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference which will take place on July 28 in Tokat (Turkey) Tuida fortress was used for centuries – during the Roman Empire Byzantium and during the time of Medieval Bulgaria Traces of Thracian presence were also found there Here is a curious fact- during excavations archaeologists came across more than 14 different types of bones of bird species which have been extinct in Bulgaria for a long time the fortress was restored with EU funding and since then it has been among the most popular tourist attractions in the area A team of animators work together with the tour guides at the site “Visitors have the opportunity to get acquainted with the lifestyle the crafts and the combat skills of our ancestors Tourists can also dress in medieval costumes participate at workshops for the manufacture of traditional ancient items and attend demonstrations with the bay-winged hawk Draco which present falconry as one of the ancient crafts of Proto-Bulgarians.” You can learn more details about Tuida fortress in Radio Bulgaria’s article: Antique Tuida fortress in Sliven is in harmony with rhythm of life and needs of modern society. The owner of a private hospital in the eastern Bulgarian city of Sliven is being investigated on charges of document forgery that could have led to the ousting of Bulgaria's Healthcare head Doctor Penko Penkov is accused of forging the contract between the “Hadji Dimitar” hospital he runs and the cardiology hospital in Yambol when applying for funds to the National Health Insurance Fund (NZOK) announced Monday for Darik radio the spokesperson of the Sliven Prosecutor's Office Violeta Kalaydzhieva This could have prompted the former head of NZOK to assign additional budget funds to the Sliven hospital Nacheva was recently removed from office over alleged abuse of power One of the charges raised against the former head of NZOK was for unlawfully increasing the budget of the privately-run Sliven hospital As acting head of the Budget and Finance Department of NZOK Nacheva is said to have illegally alloted an additional BGN 800 000 to the “Hadji Dimitar” hospital in Sliven is found guilty of document forgery when applying for NZOK funds he may be sentenced to up to 5 years in prison or banned from taking up an executive post The Bulgarian parliament terminated last Thursday the mandate of the head of the National Insurance Fund Zheni Nacheva over alleged abuse of power A day before that Nacheva submitted her resignation to parliament after she had been urged to do so by Prime Minister Boyko Borisov Nacheva has been accused of unlawfully increasing the budgets of three medical establishments throughout the country She is said to have alloted an additional BGN 800 000 to the hospital in the Bulgarian city of Sliven and about BGN 840 000 to two hospitals in Sofia – Tokuda hospital and the Military Medical Academy (VMA) two other former high-ranking officials also face charges over corruption in the health sector – ex Deputy Health Minister Emil Rainov and the former head of the Stanishev Cabinet Veladin Bitolksi are currently investigated on bribery charges At least 11 women in Bulgaria have suffered complications after receiving botulinum toxin injections from a person without medical education A 21-year-old woman from the village of Yablanovo gave birth to twins early today at the entrance of the Shumen General Hospital A total of 29 doctors from the "Southwest Hospital" in Sandanski have submitted their resignations to the facility's manager A fire broke out at the private Vita Hospital in Sofia on Wednesday morning sparking the evacuation of 77 people from the building Three people are missing after the incident in which an ammunition depot exploded near the city of Sliven in Southeastern Bulgaria Bulgarian Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov announced late Tuesday night after attending a crisis meeting together with Defense Minister Anyu Angelov and the District Governors of Sliven and Yambol by Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov with the task to investigate the causes of the blasts The ad hoc crisis headquarters team has decided to send a Plasan Sand Cat armored vehicle into the ammunition storage facility of the Bereta Trading firm in order to seek the three missing persons Bulgaria's Interior Minister said also that the authorities have established the identities of those missing no high-ranking Bulgarian official had made any statements as to what may have caused the explosions Desislav Delev only told the media the site contained "no dangerous substances" but had not commented on what brought about the blasts the authorities in Sofia rushed four special medical units on the site whose members checked the condition of the ten injured people