Bulgarian authorities investigate fraud scheme with agricultural land used for purposes of solar farms

The Anti-Corruption Commission, the Prosecutor's office and the Ministry of Interior are investigating the chairman of the Agricultural Academy and a senior official at the Pushkarov institute over a land fraud scheme.

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BNT learned from sources that owners of agricultural land changed its status by submitting documents for re-categorization from fertile soil with high qualities to one that is not suitable for agricultural needs. In this way, they were able to obtain permits for the construction of photovoltaics.

Sources from the investigation claim that for this purpose, with the assistance of the chairman of the Agricultural Academy and a senior official at the Pushkarov Institute, samples of the land were changed to prove that it was not suitable for agriculture and was of a lower category.

According to the sources, documents for recategorised land are being seized from various addresses in Byala, Varna, Sliven (many PV parks have been built near the town) and Kardzhali, where permits have been issued for the construction of PV on fertile land.