Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha Loses Case for Sitnyakovo Palace at Second Instance Court

Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and his sister Maria-Louisa have lost the case for the Sitnyakovo royal residence at the court of second instance, according to a media statement of the Sofia Appellate Court.

Under the ruling of the Sofia Appellate Court, as cited by Trud daily, Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and his sister are not the owners of the property.

The ruling of the Sofia Appellate Court upholds the decision of the Sofia District Court and approves the damage claimed by the lawyers representing the state over unfounded denial of the right to use the property.

Bulgaria's former Prime Minister (2001-2005) Simeon Saxe-Coburg and his sister Maria-Louisa have so far lost the cases for the Tsarska Bistritsa and Saragyol royal residences at the courts of first instance and have conclusively lost the legal battle for the Krichim royal residence.

The wave of lost cases started with the final court decision on the Krichim residence, which was returned to the state in December 2013.

The Sitnyakovo summer royal residence is located on the Rila Mountain.

It was built in 1904.

The residence has been granted the status of immovable cultural property.

The Sitnyakovo royal residence was returned to Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha in 2003 by the then-Sofia District Governor Olimpi Katev.

Simeon, having reigned with regents 1943-1946 (aged 6-9) after the death of his father King Boris III, was sent into exile following a controversial referendum held in 1946 that proclaimed Bulgaria a republic.

He returned to Bulgaria in 2001 and founded a liberal political party called National Movement Simeon II, later renamed to National Movement for Stability and Prosperity, which won the general election held the same year.