Rumen Gaitanski, known by his nickname Wolf, has been in the garbage collection business for over 30 years, and his public appearances during this period are extremely rare.
In the meantime, anti-mafia officers went to inspect and search properties related to Gaitanski in Sofia.
The actions of prosecutors, officials of the Anti-Corruption Commission and police officers are related to the investigation of a loan granted to Gaitanski's company by the Bulgarian Development Bank.
Gaitanski gained popularity in the 90s, when he founded the companies DITC and “Wolf 96“ - precisely from the latter comes his nickname (from “wolf“ - translated into Bulgarian means wolf). They get the garbage collection concession in Sofia. In 2006, however, the concession was terminated during the time of Boyko Borisov, when he was the capital's mayor. At the expense of this, they win contracts for garbage collection in several other cities in Bulgaria, writes "Svobna Evropa".
In 2018-2019, Gaitanski returns with his garbage collection business in Sofia – through the company “Green Partners”, which cleans several metropolitan areas.
Gaitanski also caused a stir with illegal constructions around the "Iskar" dam. In February 2024, the Supreme Administrative Court (SAC) finally declared them illegal, and then the Metropolitan Municipality began their removal. In 2020, the then municipal councilor in Sofia, Vladislav Panev from the “Green Movement”, now an MP from "We continue the change - Democratic Bulgaria", signaled that there were no permits and approved projects for the construction of Gaitanski.
An inspection by the local government did indeed find such violations, and over the next 2 years the chief architect of Sofia, Zdravko Zdravkov, issued orders to demolish the buildings.
Gaitanski's company owns the majority share of the "Maria Luisa" bathhouse in the capital. in the Boris garden. For nearly 20 years, the bathhouse has been neglected and falling apart.
It is owned by the joint-stock company "Park Maria Luisa". AD, in which companies related to Valka participate. The Sofia Municipality is a minority shareholder through the municipal company “Sofia Imoti“.
Last year, after trying to start the reconstruction of the pool, the businessman made an offer to the municipality - either to buy his share in “Maria Luisa”, or to compensate him with properties of the corresponding market value, so that the bathhouse could be completely municipal.
Loans from BBR
In 2021, it becomes clear that companies of some of the biggest businessmen in Bulgaria have received huge loans from the state-owned Bulgarian Development Bank (BDB). Its purpose, in principle, is to support small and medium-sized businesses.
Among the biggest recipients of loans from BBR is again a company associated with Gaitanski - the construction company “Rodway Construction”. In 2019, it received a record nearly BGN 150 million loan from the BBR. This happens months after the establishment of the company. The purpose of the loan is the purchase of another construction company, which is also controlled by Gaitanski.