In 2017, 18-year-old Kaloyan Georgiev committed suicide in Varna, who attacked a nurse before taking his own life. The case shocked society. His parents then described how their child was like a “zombified”. Kaloyan fell under the influence of the Russian sect “Anastasia”. Founded by the Russian Vladimir Megre in 1996, the sect operates in a number of countries, although it is banned in many places, including currently in Russia itself.
In Bulgaria, it entered the beginning of the new millennium and created its own “bio-villages” near Yambol and Elhovo. The sect preaches aggressively green and extremely organic lifestyle, denial of modernity, even anti-Semitism. This sect currently operates in Bulgaria with NGO status and is under the supervision of the Bulgarian authorities. Green policies, isolation, suicide.
Does this sound familiar?
In 1993, a shocking scene unfolded near the city of Waco in Texas. The authorities received a signal about the activities of the sect “Branch of David“, which had illegal weapons. They also had data about pedophile practices and sexual violence. David Koresh, the leader of the dangerous cult, preached apocalyptic views and armed his sect members in anticipation of the second coming of Christ. He imposed polygamy in his sect and sexually abused underage girls in his cult, calling them his “spiritual wives“. The sect was armed to the teeth. The clash between them and the federal government leads to a 51-day siege, which ended with a fire caused by the sect members themselves. In it, 76 people died, 25 of them children. Guns, fire, pedophilia, death.
Does this sound familiar?
In the 1970s, the Peoples Temple sect, led by the far-left preacher Jim Jones, became extremely popular in San Francisco. The sect had thousands of members and was actively involved in local politics. Jim Jones was extremely close to the left-liberal politician George Moscone. In 1975, during Moscone's campaign for mayor of San Francisco, Jim Jones and his sect actively helped - with flyers, posters and agitation in favor of Moscone. Jones mobilized many African-American votes, as well as significant support from the poor neighborhoods. Moscone won the mayoral election and thanked the sectarian Jones by entrusting him with a post in his administration. The vigilant American public quickly deciphered the dangerous behavior of Jones' sect and, under the pressure of circumstances, the sectists fled to Guyana, South America, where Jones built the settlement of Jonestown near the Venezuelan border. Over 900 sectists were transported there from America. In 1978, Democratic Congressman Leo Ryan went to Guyana to investigate the sect. Members of the cult killed him, along with four others. As a result, Jones ordered his followers to commit "revolutionary suicide" with cyanide. 918 people died, including over 300 children. Until the September 11 attacks, this was the bloodiest incident involving American citizens in history. Murders, suicides, mayoral connections.
Does it sound familiar?
I am telling these dangerous and dark pages of history not out of mere curiosity about this type of dangerous sectarian gatherings. The “Petrohan“ sect shook Bulgarian society, is already rearranging the political scene and bears the characteristics of what Nassim Taleb called a “black swan“. The “Petrohan“ sect has elements of all three of the above-mentioned sects. It resembles the active sect in our country “Anastasia“ - isolation, cult of the green movement, dangerous brainwashing of children and young people. Including those that led to a fatal end. It also resembles the “Branch of David“ of David Koresh, who, like the “Petrohan“ sectarians, sexually abused children and was armed to the teeth. It also resembles Jim Jones's "Peoples Temple", which is deeply embedded in local politics in San Francisco and whose followers end their earthly journey with ritual suicide.
The "Petrokhan" sect is not a religion. It is a classic cult in which there is no religion. Forget what some ignorant people say. It is not a legitimate religion. It is a deadly cult that took the lives of six people, including a child. From the stories of the cult members, it is more than obvious what it is about. Many have become mired in whatabautism and moral relativism. They have begun to defend the sectarians like Matrosov. They have accused the entire universe of all sins. But they refuse to look the truth in the eye. I am afraid that these people may not recognize the truth even if it strips naked before their eyes. them. The king is obviously naked, they praise his clothes.
Why?
It is obvious again. The “Petrokhan“ sect is integrally connected to a political force. Its fans, apologists and protectors now have an insurmountable task before them - how to make black and white. How to argue the inarguable. They have no choice, they must protect their former comrades. Those to whom they donated bags of money. Those with whom they ate under the thick shadow of the sad hut. Those to whom they registered the NGO, although they imitated a state structure in their name. Those to whom they gave ministerial indulgence and elevated to the highest state level by lobbying for them before state bodies. Those who were their friends, political comrades, squires. The king is naked. The PPDB seem to be politically tied to the “Petrokhan“ sect. And to the PP, who scare with deeds anyone who raises these issues, I have a message - instead of scaring the crows, look around your house. We have the right to raise these issues, these are legitimate topics and deserve to be addressed. You will not stop the issues with threats.
To those, including the PP itself, who say that the tragedy surrounding the “Petrohan“ sect should not be politicized, I have one thing to say. You would be much more convincing if every time there is some tragedy that other parties are even indirectly connected to, you did not politicize the topic. Do you remember the “Struma“ bus crash from 2021, in which 45 people from North Macedonia died, including 12 children? Then Kiril Petkov, in his capacity as Radev's official minister, blamed GERB for the “chaos in the infrastructure“. Do you remember the fire in the nursing home in the village of Royak, where 9 people died again in 2021? Then Radev's caretaker government was in power again, and the DB sharply criticized GERB for failing in social policy. The future coalition partner of the PPDB, Cornelia Ninova, will then say from parliament that "this is the result of 12 years of GERB - death for the poorest". Do you remember the migrant disaster near Burgas in 2023, when 18 people died? Then, although in an alliance with GERB, the PPDB directly accused Borisov's party of failing in border control.
For such cases, which are much less (or not at all) politically related, you have always blamed your opponents. Today you have become entangled like pig intestines with a sect. And you want it not to be politicized. There is a term for this - it is called "hypocrisy". Society has the right to know who patronized and who helped this sect. And the questions are completely legitimate and deserve an answer. I know that Bulgarian politicians do not know how to admit mistakes and do not know how to humble themselves. But it is time for them to learn.
Thank you for your attention to this issue.