Bulgaria Winter Resort Fire Deemed Nationalist's Revenge

The Borosport company, which manages the ski lifts and the snow machines at Bulgaria's winter resort Borovets was hit by arson Tuesday night. Photo by BGNES

The office of the “Borosport” company in Bulgaria's winter resort of Borovets has been set on fire Tuesday night.

The company manages the ski lifts and the maintenance equipment at the resort. About 5 square meters of the building's facade have burnt and the quick reaction of the fire fighters prevented even bigger damage.

The police and the prosecutor's office in the nearby town of Samokov are investigating the fire, which is considered arson.

The Bulgarian “Blitz” news agency cites unnamed sources, saying the investigators are focusing on the local councilman for the far-right, nationalist Ataka party, Yuri Galev, and his acquaintances. They are charged with severely beating the security guards of the ski lift at the resort.

Galev, his 16-year-old son, Yuri Galev Jr., and two other individuals were arrested for the beating, but later released on bail. Galev Sr. is under house arrest.