The coalition Cyanide Free Bulgaria and political party Zelenite (Bulgarian Greens) said on July 11 that they would file a petition to the Greek ambassador to Bulgaria Danae-Magdalini Koumounakou and Turkish ambassador in Sofia Heydar Berk, to inform them about the hazards inherent in the use of cyanide technology for gold mining in Bulgaria for the population living on the riverbanks of Arda and Maritsa, flowing from Bulgaria to Turkey and Greece.

The three projects that, according to the environmentalists, endanger the population are in Kroumovgrad, Kurdjali and Chelopech. The use of cyanides in gold extration held a high risk of pollution of the rivers, the environmental organisations said in a media statement.

"Having in mind the results written in the Environmental Impact Assessment reports of those investment proposals, we are convinced that they violate the right of this people on healthy and optimum environment corresponding to the set standards and regulations in article 55 of the Bulgarian constitution," the environmentalists said.

The petition also supports a proposal filed to Parliament for amendments to the Environment Protection Act that envision a ban of cyanide usage in the mine industry.