Yesterday, on social media, a family managing the „Hristo Smirnenski“ hut shared that it was brutally and illegally evicted from the property „with the help of 30 mutts“ by the Bulgarian Tourist Union. Iskra.bg asked the victims for a comment on the case. They told our media:
“You can’t imagine the pressure it’s under and it will continue until the hut is taken. We have been told absolutely literally that the object is too appetizing to be ours. Many people have contacted us who have been in the same situation but are afraid to say anything out of fear.”
The lodge’s tenants claim that when the chairman of the Bulgarian Tourist Union changed last year, their problems started from then. According to them, they previously maintained „excellent relations with the Union“. They emphasized that the building was given to them for management by TD „Yundola“ 1919, and they have signed two consecutive 10-year contracts, the second one being valid until 2027.
The hut was given to Georgi Banev 18 years ago. The building belonged to the Ministry of Tourism, then provided with a contract to TD „Yundola“, which in turn gave it with a fee-contract for the management of Banev. He turned the hut from a ruin into a tourist attraction, but died late last year. The building was then taken over by his heirs. The late Banev signed a contract with a subsidiary of the Bulgarian Tourist Union, according to his relatives.
“In short, under this contract, we do not have any pay, as it has not entered into force. It has so many clauses that all the lawyers we have consulted have concluded that it is not effective. Throughout the years, we have been fair to our contract with TD „Yundola“ 1919, as we pay symbolic rent, but we have made large investments. We have a clause in the contract, if our company terminates it, they will owe us a penalty of BGN 100,000. However, the new management of the Bulgarian Tourist Union wants to bypass these companies. The Union began to pressure other people to sign contracts with them. Many victims have contacted us in a similar situation”, claims the family that runs the lodge.
On April 16, 2022, a general meeting of the Bulgarian Tourist Union was held, at which the management board was replaced with four new members and a chairman. This happened after four of the members of the management board and the chairman submitted their resignations. The newly elected chairman is called Vencislav Venev, elected by a full majority.
The current owners of the site claim:
“On March 30 this year, they came and stuck a note on our door to move out by April 8. We went to the Bulgarian Tourist Union on April 18 and talked, during which we agreed that within a few working days we would receive a letter with their solution. In front of 6 people, they said that they recognize that their contract is not valid, because the one with TD „Yundola“ is until 2027. The Bulgarian Tourist Union said that they intended to end relations with them and take the cabin. These terminations do not happen overnight, but must go through the courts. On April 19, representatives of the Union poured into the hut along with 30 private security guards and threw us out. They didn’t even let us take our clothes, nothing! With much persuasion they allowed our lodger to remain inside without touching anything. In the building we have animals, goods, equipment and furniture, wood for heating, personal belongings, equipment worth tens of thousands of BGN. Right now, they’re robbing us of something we’ve invested so much in.”
“We called the police yesterday, the uniformed told us that this violates all rules, but they could not do anything and advised us to file a complaint with the prosecutor’s office. We will file complaints with all possible institutions. We will seek our rights to the end!”, the current tenants of the „Hristo Smirnenski“ hut are emphatic.
Iskra.bg also asked the Bulgarian Tourist Union for a comment. They said:
“The contract that had to be re-signed was entirely in favor of the tenants, because they have managed the site for many years. They have undoubtedly made a lot of investments in the crumbling building and therefore they were offered a token rent for the site. There are lodges in the surrounding area in much worse condition and commanding much higher rent. What they have done has been appreciated and their behavior over the past few months is inexplicable.”
The Bulgarian Tourist Union published its position on the case yesterday on social networks, we apply it without editorial intervention:
“Hristo Smirnenski Hut is one of the emblematic huts owned by the Bulgarian Tourist Union. Last year, a contract for the use of the hut was signed with the company „MIG 79B“ Ltd. with the joint vision of turning it into a national center for tourism and outdoor sports.
Unfortunately, shortly before Christmas, the manager of „MIG 79B“ Ltd. Georgi Banev, with whom our Association has always maintained good long-term relations, died. As a result of this, the „Hristo Smirnenski“ hut was actually left without an owner.
Our expectations that Georgi Banev’s heirs would inherit his rights were not met. On the contrary, they sent an official statement that they do not recognize the contract with the Bulgarian Tourist Union, signed by Georgi Banev, and refuse to fulfill their obligations under it. A number of attempts were made to resolve the situation that had arisen, and on April 18, 2023, in a purposely held meeting at the headquarters of the Bulgarian Tourist Union, the heirs of Georgi Banev categorically refused to enter into contractual relations with the Bulgarian Tourist Union.
For this reason, from today, April 19, in the presence of law enforcement officers and in a calm environment, the „Hristo Smirnenski“ hut is under the direct management of the Bulgarian Tourist Union, and a competition is to be announced to find a new owner of the hut, which does not exclude the opportunity for the heirs of Georgi Banev to appear on it.
We urge the mountaineering community not to be misled by the false but heartbreaking claims being circulated, assuring you that an employee of the former users is currently present at the lodge and will remain at the site until their personal belongings are removed.
We apologize for the inconvenience and we hope that the „Hristo Smirnenski“ lodge will open its doors again soon.”
In connection with the case, we have sent an inquiry to the Ministry of Tourism.
