Regarding a number of false allegations by the former Minister of Environment and Water Emil Dimitrov, which undermine the prestige of the MOEW and personally of Minister Asen Lichev, we declare:

1. Upon taking office, the Minister of Environment and Water Asen Lichev received, in the presence of the new political cabinet, from his predecessor only a camera joystick from the so-called Coordination Center, and no information about the state of the Ministry or the documents with which Emil Dimitrov claims to have approached the prosecutor's office for abuses under OPE. The signals and the abuses became known to Minister Lichev through a journalistic investigation. The allegations that Mr. Dimitrov verbally “warned” Minister Lichev about them do not correspond to the truth.

2. Regarding the claims that Minister Asen Lichev reinstated people discharged by his predecessor for abuse, the Minister is certain beyond doubt that he was not informed about the abuse, and that the presumption of innocence must be followed, namely that everyone is innocent until proven otherwise. In this sense, in proving abuses and/or crimes, the perpetrators must bear their punishment in accordance with the law, by analogy with the arrest of a former Minister and Deputy Minister of Environment and Water.

3. Emil Dimitrov’s statement that the expected European funds under the Recovery and Resilience Plan are “...related to the environmental sector and many people are looking forward to receiving money from it and have prepared projects …”, replies to the question whether or not there are interests and aspirations of various political circles around the MOEW at the moment.

4. Documents have been uploaded on the website of the Ministry of Environment and Water, which prove that Operational Program “Environment”, the Directorate “National Service for Environmental Protection”, the Enterprise for Management of Environmental Protection Activities, and the directorates of national parks were under direct subordination and management by Emil Dimitrov. In this sense, it is impossible that he did not know in full detail what was happening in those structures. On the website you can also find the orders for payment of additional remuneration for achieved results to OPE employees for the last trimester of 2020 and the first trimester of 2021, and other documents showing controversial results not only according to public expectations.

Additional remuneration paid to employees in the Operational Program "Environment" (OPE) for the last two trimesters of 2020 | MOEW (government.bg)

https://www.moew.government.bg/bg/dokument-pokazvast-che-na-pryako-podchinenie-i-rukovodstvo-na-emil-dimitrov-sa-bili-opos-nszp-pudoos-i-direkciite- of-national-parks/

5. Only the sovereign of Bulgaria can give moral assessments of the transparency of the work of the caretaker government.

6. We do not accept fiddling with people’s fears on one of the most sensitive topics - the quality of drinking water. The statement that currently residents in the regions listed by Emil Dimitrov drink “polluted” and “muddy” water is not true. This is not only immoral, but also demonstrates controversial knowledge in the field of water, which is an integral part of the work of the MOEW.

We leave it to you to make conclusions in regard to the allegations by Emil Dimitrov in light of the above-presented facts and documents.

Information on the current condition of the following dams:

Regarding the water supply for the regions of Montana and Vratsa:

The “Srechenska Bara” Dam provides all required quantities to the water supply and sewerage companies that supply water for drinking and household needs to the municipalities of Montana, Berkovitsa, Varshets, Vratsa, Mezdra, and Krivodol.

As of July 15th, 2021, the dam at 98% full of its total volume, and the inflow is regulated through the inflowing derivations so as to maintain an optimal volume in the dam for drinking and domestic water supply and to prevent its overflow.

Regarding the allegation of water pollution in Pleven:

Pleven is not supplied with water by complex and significant dams.

Regarding the statement that in Targovishte and Shumen citizens drink muddy water:

Drinking water for the towns of Shumen, Targovishte, and Veliki Preslav (Water Supply and Sewerage companies Shumen and Targovishte) is provided by the dam “Ticha”.

As of 15.07.2021, the volume in the dam has reached 251.5 million m3.

The sanitary minimum for its volume is 40 million m3 and not 200 m3

On private HPPs and the water supply for Sliven, Yambol, and Elhovo:

In terms of drinking and domestic water supply, Yambol and Elhovo are not supplied with water from complex and significant dams. The town of Sliven is supplied by the “Asenovets” Dam, which is 98% full and the drinking water supply is fully guaranteed. The requests for water by the Water and Sewage company Sliven are satisfied at 100%.

Regarding the statement that Minister Lichev has banned the reserve water supply for Burgas and Varna:

Considering the fact that the “Kamchia” Dam is the main water source for drinking water for the cities of Varna and Burgas, where consumption is at its highest during the summer months, when the inflow of water resources is lowest, it is necessary to ensure a reliable water source as an alternative (reserve) water supply in case of consecutive years with a small water inflow.

For the purpose of emergency drinking and domestic water supply for the city of Varna and settlements in the Varna region, the Ministry of Environment and Water requested an opinion on the intention to use the “Georgi Traikov” Dam as an emergency (reserve) water source for drinking and domestic water. If the Water and Sewerage Company of Varna wishes to carry out water abstraction from the “Georgi Traikov” Dam for the purpose of emergency drinking and domestic water supply for the city of Varna and settlements in the Varna region, an application for issuance of a permit should be submitted to the MOEW for water abstraction from a surface water body – dam under Annex №1 to the Water Act, as well as all required information according to Art. 60 of the Water Act and the Ordinance on the use of surface water.

At the moment, the drinking and domestic water supply from the “Kamchia” Dam to Varna and Burgas is guaranteed, as the dam is 99.51% full.