A nationwide protest calling for a temporary moratorium on the construction of wind turbines and solar power plants on agricultural land took place in several cities across Bulgaria on Saturday. The protest was organized by the White Swallow and Beledie Han-Bogovtsi associations, covering the regions of Dobrudzha, Ruse, Plovdiv, and Pernik. 
More than 26 agricultural and environmental organizations from across the country supported the protest.
In Sofia Region, a procession of about 15 vehicles set off from the junction for the villages of Bogovtsi and Beledie Han and passed through the villages of Bogovtsi, Bezden, Pitsvet, and Petarch before returning to Bogovtsi, BTA learned from Silviya Ivanova, a representative of the Land, Water, Forest Association.
Among the reasons for the protest, she listed the planned construction of a large photovoltaic park on approximately 100 hectares of municipal land within the territory of the village of Bogovtsi. She noted that the land consists of pastures and that leasing it to investors would leave the village without a single pasture for local needs. Ivanova expressed concern that, throughout the country, vast tracts of land are being appropriated unchecked – through municipal council decisions – for renewable energy projects without a clear national energy strategy or energy plan. She also expressed solidarity with the protesters in Dobrich.
The protesters are demanding the introduction of a temporary moratorium on the construction of renewable energy projects throughout the country until their status is clarified and the activity is regulated. They are calling for a halt to the leasing of agricultural land and municipal pastures for large-scale energy facilities, as well as the development of a national energy strategy and a national energy plan that take into account existing and future capacity, rather than allowing projects to be implemented haphazardly. It is proposed that this be achieved through amendments to several laws, including the Law on the Ownership and Use of Agricultural Land and the Agricultural Land Protection Act, Ivanova explained.
She said that since 2024, they have repeatedly sent letters and appeals to various state institutions, and together with a coalition of over 20 organizations – the Fellowship for the Protection of Bulgaria – they have submitted an official request for a moratorium to the National Assembly, the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Environment and Water, and other relevant ministries. The request was filed about two to three months ago.
Ivanova said that if the protesters’ demands for a temporary moratorium and oversight are not accepted, a new protest will be organized.
Attorney Yanichka Metodieva, head of the Neprimirimite Bulgarian Central Committee, reported that two months ago a request was submitted to put to a vote a bill she drafted to impose a 6-month moratorium on the construction of renewable energy power plants. The purpose of this 6-month period is to halt construction until the legislation is clarified. According to her, it must be clearly defined what is beneficial and what limits such projects may extend to. 
As a specific example, she cited the village of Brusartsi, where photovoltaic installations are located only about 20 metres from people’s residential buildings. Metodieva stated that this negatively affects residents due to the constant noise generated by the rotors that support the photovoltaic panels. She raised the alarm about construction on fertile land, in which Category 3 farmland is deliberately reclassified as Category 7 or 8 solely to circumvent restrictions and allow for the development of solar parks. Metodiev reported that topsoil is being removed from the sites designated for photovoltaic panels and transported by truck to Romania.
She criticized the agri-photovoltaics concept in the legislation, noting that no one has provided a clear answer to the question of what crops could actually thrive and be cultivated beneath the solar panels.
In Ruse (on the Danube), the protesters organized a motorcade through the city streets, which was joined by people from Silistra, and collected signatures in support of holding a referendum on the issue. 
Anton Antonov, Chair of the Neprimirimite Initiative Committee for Ruse and Deputy Chair of the organization’s Central Committee, told BTA that the construction of wind turbines and photovoltaic installations on fertile farmland threatens the flora and fauna, and that many farmers and beekeepers are at risk of losing their livelihoods.
Antonov added that the petition they are organizing is for a referendum against the construction of wind power plants and against the EU’s Green Deal.
Antonov described the situation in Northern Bulgaria as “dire” and stated that it is necessary to protect agriculture and small and medium-sized businesses, and to invest more in tourism. Instead, he said, state institutions “serve oligarchs” and the political-mafia establishment.”
He said that the participants intend to continue their actions.
In Pernik (Southwestern Bulgaria), farmers, hunters, citizens, and representatives of associations and initiative committees from the region and neighbouring areas joined a protest motorcade. Over 70 vehicles took part, the organizers told BTA. According to the protesters, it is necessary to assess the cumulative impact of all renewable energy projects on a given area, rather than considering investment plans on a case-by-case basis. They insist that specific areas and restrictions be established for the construction of renewable energy facilities, utilizing rooftops and land slated for reclamation.
Miroslav Bonev, head of the Initiative Committee to Protect Public Interest in Pernik Region and coordinator for Western Bulgaria of the Fellowship for the Protection of Bulgaria, told BTA that the protesters are not demanding resignations and are not seeking confrontation with the institutions. “We want to be heard and, together with local and national authorities, find a solution,” Bonev underscored.
A protest motorcade was organized in Plovdiv (South Central Bulgaria) as well. Olga Docheva of the Fellowship for the Protection of Bulgaria told BTA that Bulgaria still does not have a national map of all the power plants built to date. According to her, renewable energy parks are typically operated by foreign companies that protect nature in their own countries but destroy Bulgaria’s. The Ministry of Environment and Water’s plan for the development of priority zones for accelerated wind energy development includes 25 areas in Bulgaria that will be affected. She argued that the plan does not take into account the country’s natural characteristics.
In Dobrich (Northeastern Bulgaria), protesters formed a motorcade and blocked five roundabouts at the city’s entrance-exit points. White Swallow head Vladimir Kalchev told BTA that there are plans to build wind farm in about 40 villages in Dobrudzha. He urged the Government to regulate the locations where renewable energy facilities can be built and to protect agricultural land and protected areas. The initiative also calls for the development of a national energy strategy that prioritizes nuclear energy, Kalchev noted.
Kalchev announced that following the protest, an appeal will be sent to the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers calling for the protection of fertile agricultural land as a national treasure.
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