Bulgarian Court Sentences Organizer of Fatal Ohrid Trip

Boryana Georgieva, the organizer in the tragic trip to Lake Ohrid in Macedonia, during which 15 Bulgarians drowned, appears before the Dimitrovgrad Court. Photo by Dariknews

The District Court in the southern town of Dimitrovgrad ruled that Boryana Georgieva, the organizer in the tragic trip to Lake Ohrid in Macedonia, is guilty of not having the required registration as a tour operator.

The judge imposed Thursday a fine of BGN 4 500 on Georgieva and banned her from any business activities for 2 years.

The rule can be appealed within 15 days with the higher Regional Court in the city of Haskovo.

Georgieva stated she does not feel guilty and will appeal. She says she had a permit to take people on trips abroad. Witnesses, interviewed by Darik radio, also declared Georgieva not guilty; they pointed out they do not blame her for the incident, and she is also a victim as they are.

15 Bulgarians died on September 5, 2009 when the tour boat “Ilinden” capsized in the Ohrid Lake.

“Ilinden” was 200 metres from shore when it sunk into the deepest lake in the region, and a popular Balkans tourist attraction, at around 11:00 am (0900 GMT) near a campground outside Ohrid city. The tourists were on their way to the St Naum monastery complex.

At the beginning of March, the Macedonian authorities closed the investigation into the sinking of the tourist boat, but the outcome remains unknown. Just very recently Skopje banned all navigation of boats in the lake unless they obtain a certificate for technical inspection.

 

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