Author
The report was previously updated in April 2024.
National context
In 2024, Bulgaria registered an unprecedent political and constitutional crisis, which has seen the country facing seven parliamentary elections over four years – respectively on 4 April 2021, 11 July 2021, 14 November 2021, 2 October 2022, 2 April 2023, 9 June 2024 and the latest on 27 October 2024.[1] What started in July 2020 as a civil protest of young citizens living in urban areas against the overwhelming corruption, shattered economy, politically subdued judiciary and suffocated media, gradually turned into a political deadlock. It was a result from the power struggle among several main opposing political circles, the first formed around the GERB party which ruled the country for more than twelve years (2009-2013 / 2014-2020) allied with the former communist BSP party and its far right derivatives ITN, Vazrazhdane, Mech, Velichie, etc.; the DPS party – formally registered as representing the Turkish minority in the country – which recently split into two separate entities; the political project-in the-making around the pro-Russian, anti-EU and anti-refugee president Rumen Radev[2] serving his second term (2017-2022 / 2022-2027); and the recently formed and self-proclaimed as liberal party PP in loose coalition with the leaderless smaller political collaboration Democratic Bulgaria. As a result, six caretaker cabinets governed the country in the past years, thus making impossible the adoption of any major executive decisions, institutional reforms or legal amendments with several strategic exceptions, e.g. measures to meet the conditions set by Austria to unblock the country’s full Schengen accession. The national asylum system remained particularly affected, firstly for being left outside mainstream political objectives and agenda; and secondly, for having its management largely seen as a merely technical one,[3] without any political endorsement or support, and therefore severely underfunded with its policy and institutional initiatives overwhelmingly neglected.[4]
International protection
Asylum procedure
- Access to the territory: In 2024, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (FRONTEX) re-instated its presence in the country by deploying 230 new members of its staff in March. The majority was deployed to participate in mixed border patrols along the main entry border[5] with Türkiye. In contrast with previous deployments, in this case the mixed patrols were positioned not only around key roads[6] towards Serbia (I-8) or Romania (I-9), but along the land (green) border. The operation coincided with measures of intensified external control applied by the Turkish authorities on their side of the border, following extensive bilateral meetings that took place between the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024. Between December 2023 and April 2024, Turkish border guards were deployed along the entire border with Bulgaria, utilizing surveillance equipment and conducting physical checks on vehicles and travellers along both main and secondary roads leading to Bulgaria. Cross-border cooperation with the border agencies of Türkiye and Greece was also visibly intensified, particularly through the operation of the tri-partite contact center – established in 2016 on Bulgarian territory at the Kapitan Andreevo border crossing point (BCP) -– and through weekly meetings at regional directorates’ level. Against this backdrop, in 2024 the overall number of the so called prevented entries, reported by the authorities, dropped significantly. Thus, in 2024 the authorities reported to have prevented the entry of 52,534 persons.[7] It represented a 70% decrease in comparison with the 178,698 prevented entries registered in 2023.[8] Although officially referred to as irregular migrants, who before entering the border with Bulgaria independently decided to return to the territory of neighbouring countries (i.e. Türkiye),[9] monitoring shows[10] that these numbers represent to a great extent those who attempted to enter the country, but were pushed back either at the border or apprehended while already on Bulgarian territory after an irregular border crossing. At the same time, the percentage of irregular migrants officially apprehended at the border with Türkiye increased by 41%.[11] Since 2014, for ten consecutive years, the percentage of irregular migrants successfully entering from Türkiye has remained notoriously low compared to those apprehended at exit borders or within the territory. This is largely due to the widespread practice of pushbacks at this border (see, Asylum procedure, Access to the territory and push backs). This increase is seen as a result of the involvement of Frontex staff in mixed border patrols along the land border with Türkiye. Once officially arrested, irregular migrants are provided with information on available legal procedures and can apply for international protection either at 24-hour border detention facilities or after their transfer to pre-removal (detention) centres inland. The overall decline in new arrivals from Türkiye has also led to a significant 45% drop in registered asylum applications, with just 12,250 applicants in 2024 compared to 22,518 in the previous year. 27,775 Ukrainians[12] were registered under the temporary protection scheme during the year. At the end a 2024, a total of 60,864 temporary protection holders[13] were reported as remaining in the country. Thus, in 2024 the national asylum system was engaged with 73,114 persons, seeking or enjoying some of the available types of protection in Bulgaria. On 12 December 2024 the EU Council endorsed the full Schengen accession of Bulgaria and Romania from 1 January 2025. Prior to it, the government announced[14] more measures for tightened control at the Bulgarian-Turkish border after the accession. The measures included the deployment of 1,200 national border police officers, along with 240 Frontex officials and international teams. Initially, these teams comprised a total of 100 officers from various countries, including 40 Romanian, 15 Austrian, 20 Hungarian, and 25 Bulgarian border guards. Additionally, new echolocation equipment and high passable vehicles were introduced to enhance border surveillance. The international teams began to operate on 3 February 2025.[15]
- Access to the procedure: Asylum applicants continued to be deprived of direct access to the asylum procedure when apprehended at the border. Just 2% of those who were apprehended on the entry border with Türkiye and within the so called Kapikule-Ormenion-Svilengrad border triangle received direct access to registration and accommodation in a SAR reception centre without first being sent and detained in a MOI deportation centre.[16] On the contrary, since 2022, the SAR started to grant immediate and unhindered access to the asylum procedure to ‘self-reported’ asylum seekers (see, Asylum Procedure, Registration of asylum application). ‘Self-reported’ asylum seekers are those who managed to enter and reach SAR registration centres independently, without being apprehended by the police and detained. In the past, the asylum agency consistently refused to register them directly, instead alerting the police, which then arrested and detained them in deportation centres of the Ministry of the Interior. In some cases, this malpractice was affecting families with minor children and pregnant women. This trend changed from 2022, when this practice affected a total of 94 persons (0.5%) out of 20,407 asylum seekers registered in the country. In 2023, only 48 asylum seekers (0.2%) out of 22,518 suffered from this practice, where in 2024 it affected 83 asylum seekers (0.4%) out of 12,250 persons who had lodged an asylum application.[17] No irregularities regarding access to the asylum procedures were registered in MOI deportation centres[18] in Lyubimets or Busmantsi.[19] Following these improvements, some smugglers adapted quickly and began to deliver smuggled persons directly to open SAR reception centres in Harmanli, Banya and Sofia with many among them with settled representation by private practitioners and false proof of registration at an external address. In January 2025, the head of the Sofia Migration Directorate was arrested for alleged corruption and, among other charges, for alleged registration of false addresses of third country nationals.[20]
- Absconding and secondary movements: The absconding rate decreased in 2024. 39% (7,299 persons) out of 18,301 asylum seekers with pending cases abandoned their asylum procedure in Bulgaria.[21] This represented a decrease of nearly 10% compared to 48% of the total registered in 2023, on the background of 46% in 2022, 26% in 2021, 39% in 2020, and 83% in 2019. The main reasons motivating asylum seekers to abandon their asylum procedures in Bulgaria and abscond were the poor reception conditions, low recognition rates for some nationalities, as well as the lack of any integration support or programs provided by the State (see, Reception Conditions).
- Length and quality of the procedure: In 2024, the SAR issued decisions for 18,301 asylum applicants. Out of this number, 12,250 asylum seekers applied in 2024, while 6,051 asylum seekers had pending cases from 2023.[22] Out of the total number of decisions,[23] 56 granted refugee status, 4,894 humanitarian status (subsidiary protection under the QD), 3,141 were rejections (of which 1,525 taken in an accelerated procedure). 7,299 were decisions discontinuing the procedure, mainly due to absconding. It represented, on average, 675 monthly decisions, issued by 27 case workers. The average length of the procedure remained from 4 to 6 months.[24] Several improvements in the standards and quality of the asylum procedure were also observed,[25] which provided for better safeguards for asylum applicants pending the status determination.
- Recognition and refusal rates: In 2024, the overall recognition rate decreased to 61%, from 66% in 2023 and 91% in 2022 of all decisions on the merits. Both refugee recognition and subsidiary protection rates continued to decrease. Refugee recognition decreased to 0.7%[26] and subsidiary protection (defined as ‘humanitarian status’ under national law) rates fell to 60% in 2024.[27] The rejection rate reached 39%,[28] when considering only decisions issued on the substance of asylum claims. Among the top 5 countries of origin of asylum seekers entering Bulgaria in 2024 remained Syria and Afghanistan. These two nationalities together represented 79% of the total arrivals, – 62% from Syria and 16% from Afghanistan. Except for Syrian nationals, over an extended period before 2022, recognition rates for other nationalities remained low. Applicants from Afghanistan and Türkiye faced discriminatory treatment, with their cases overwhelmingly classified as manifestly unfounded, leading to extremely low recognition rates.[29] After more than a decade of being deemed non-credible applicants—briefly interrupted by a significant improvement in recognition rates in 2022—Afghan nationals once again faced reduced recognition in 2024, as in 2023, with an overall recognition rate of just 10% (0.3% refugee status and 9.7% subsidiary protection) and a 90% rejection rate.[30] The majority (86%) of Afghan applicants[31] continued to abscond before receiving a first instance decision, which was issued on the merits in 14% of the caseload.[32] The recognition of Turkish applicants improved with 14% overall recognition rate (0% refugee recognition rate and 14% subsidiary protection rate), in comparison to the 100% rejection rate in 2023. The most radical change in recognition rates related to Syrian applicants. Since 2014, Syrian applicants have been treated as prima facie refugees with the majority of them granted subsidiary protection based on the understanding that they flee from internal armed conflict[33] (see, Differential treatment of specific nationalities in the procedure). Starting from mid-2024 the SAR initiated individual assessment of Syrian applications, which resulted in a 19% rejection and 81% recognition rate (0.5% refugee recognition rate and 80% subsidiary protection). After the fall of Bashar Assad’s regime on 8 December 2024, the SAR halted the interviewing and status determination of Syrian applicants until 31 January 2025, when these were resumed on an individual assessment basis.[34]
- Relocation and resettlement: Since 2015, Bulgaria relocated 187 people, of whom 76 from Greece, 10 from Italy and 101 from Cyprus. Since the EU-Türkiye deal, out of the agreed number of 110 individuals, in total 116 Syrian refugees have been resettled. In 2024, 11 Syrian nationals were resettled from Türkiye, while 7 Syrian nationals were relocated from Cyprus.
Reception conditions
- Reception centres: Since 2015, the conditions in all national reception centres have been gradually deteriorating, with support limited to accommodation, nutrition and rudimentary medical help without provision of psychological care or assistance.[35] In 2022, a SAR internal revision of the reception centres’ capacity revealed it[36] to be far below long-time declared 5,160 places, mainly because the designated premises were unfit for living. In 2024, SAR reported just 3,225 places available for accommodation in all of its reception centres.[37] The asylum agency continued to be severely underfunded in general. The SAR annual budgets were,[38] respectively, in 2021: 10,689,700 BGN; in 2022:14,095,300 BGN; in 2023: 12,038,218 BGN and in 2024: 11,717,200 BGN. The only budget allocated for repairs or refurbishment[39] of the reception centers was of 145,000 BGN in 2022 with no such means allocated in the 2020, 2021, 2023 or 2024 annual budgets of the asylum agency. As a result, reception centres accommodating applicants during their asylum procedure continued to face persistent issues related to infrastructure and living conditions, often falling below basic standards. In many cases, they failed to provide even the most essential services, including adequate nutrition and sanitation in both personal and communal spaces. Access to regular and hot water, as well as maintenance and repairs in bathrooms, rooms, and common areas, remained highly problematic due to the absence of a dedicated budget for upkeep. Long-standing issues such as infestations of bedbugs, lice, cockroaches, and rats persisted across facilities. The Ovcha Kupel shelter in Sofia, the oldest reception centre, deteriorated to such an extent that at one point, SAR management considered its complete closure.[40] By the end of 2024, the only remaining functional space within the facility was the safe zone for unaccompanied children, managed by the IOM. Residents across all reception centres, except for the Pastrogor transit center, continued to express concerns about poor living conditions, particularly the persistent issue of bedbug infestations, which frequently led to health problems such as chronic skin inflammations and allergic reactions. Despite monthly and ad hoc disinfection efforts throughout 2024, the issue, which first emerged in 2013 and was largely neglected until 2023, remained a serious and ongoing concern.[41] Food in reception centres was provided through catering arrangements to deliver three meals per day. As catering providers are selected regionally based on the lowest price offer,[42] these vary among the different reception centres. Thus, in the Ovcha Kupel, Voenna Rampa and Vrazhdebna shelters and in the Sofia reception centre these three meals per day were delivered at the price of BGN 5.38, equal to EUR 2.75; in the Harmanli reception center – at the price of BGN 6.54, equal to EUR 3.35; in the Banya reception centre – at the price of BGN 6.24, equal to EUR 3.20; and in the Pastrogor transit centre – at the price of BGN 6.01, equal to EUR 3.08 daily. The individual monthly allowance provided for in the law is not translated into practice as it is not provided since 2015.[43] For this reason, in 2024 asylum seekers continued to complain not only about food quality, but also about its insufficient quantity. The main factor that helped avoiding a point of critical malnutrition for asylum seekers was still high rate of absconding and abandonment of the procedure, which in 2024 was 47% of all caseload. Asylum seekers continued to face significant barriers in accessing consistent and specialized healthcare due to the country’s chronic shortage of general practitioners. The medical care of asylum seekers was mainly carried out in the surgeries organised in Sofia and Harmanli reception centres, with a total of 18,189 initial medical examinations and 7,038 outpatient examinations in 2024,[44] provided in reception centres by 4 doctors, 1 paramedic and 4 nurses. Even though asylum seekers are health insured, due to its budget restraints SAR fail to meet the medical expenses, which are not covered by the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF). These costs as well as those for prescribed medicines, lab tests or other medical interventions which are not covered in the health care package, as well as for purchase of baby formula, diapers and other personal hygiene products were provided by UNHCR, UNICEF and the Red Cross.[45] Throughout 2024, the most serious concern relating national reception conditions remained the lack safety and security for asylum seekers accommodated in reception centres. These continued to be seriously compromised due to the presence of smugglers, drug dealers and sex workers who had access to all reception centres during the night hours without any interference from the private security guards. The SAR received many public disorder complaints during 2024 both in Sofia and Harmanli, which escalated in public demonstrations and committees requesting the reception facilities to be either closed, or turned to closed-type centres.[46] In 2022[47] and 2023,[48] a non-governmental organisation continued raising concerns regarding safety of reception centres. Starting from mid-2022, the SAR submitted several requests to the Ministry of Interior,[49] to engage the police in guarding of the reception centres, but the MOI initiated a procedure in this sense only by the end of 2023,[50] to investigate the possibility for SAR reception centres to be guarded by the national police and gendarmerie. In April 2024, additional amendments to the law were made,[51] but only from 31 January 2025 did the MOI take over the guarding of the reception centres of the SAR, staring with Sofia and Harmanli ones.[52] This major change is expected to seriously improve the safety and security of asylum seekers who are accommodated in the reception centres.
- Safe zone for unaccompanied children: The two safe zones for unaccompanied children at the Sofia reception centre continued to be maintained under an IOM project, funded by AMIF until the end of 2024. In May 2024, a third safe zone with a capacity for 98 children was opened[53] in the biggest reception centre in Harmanli, following a collaboration with UNICEF and IOM, funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration (SEM). Overall, the conditions in the safe zones were better compared to all other SAR accommodation premises. The abovementioned serious security problems existing in reception centres and their surroundings in 2024 however also affected the overall safety of unaccompanied children. However, improvements in this respect are expected following the security being handed over to the police (see, the paragraph above). In 2024, the number of unaccompanied children who sought protection in Bulgaria decreased by 48%.[54] Nonetheless, the capacity of the three safe zones, totalling 386 places,[55] would be insufficient to accommodate all newcomers if not for the exceptionally high absconding rate of 92%. Starting in 2022, SAR began to invest systematic efforts in providing unaccompanied children with accommodation in specialized child care facilities. By 2024, the number of children benefiting from this most suitable form of care continued to gradually increase.[56]
- Access to benefits: Asylum seekers who decide to live outside reception centres at their own expenses are not entitled to social benefits.[57] Asylum seekers who are not self-sufficient are entitled to accommodation in the available reception centres, three meals per day, basic medical assistance and psychological support,[58] even though the latter is not secured in practice. Monthly cash allowance is not provided since 2015.[59] Access to any other social benefits under the EU acquis is not guaranteed by law, nor provided in practice, still raising concerns about compliance with Articles 17, 18 and 25 of the Reception Conditions Directive.
- Access to the labour market: During the asylum procedure, asylum seekers have unconditional access to the labour market after a period of three months from their registration.[60] In 2024, the State Refugee Agency issued 1,074 work permits to asylum seekers who were looking to support themselves while their asylum claims were being processed.[61] Out of them, only 3 asylum seekers and 10 persons granted international protection were employed through employment programs, while the rest found work independently and on their own initiative.[62] At the same time, a total of 272 persons with temporary protection were employed through employment programs.[63]
Detention of asylum seekers
- Detention in pre-removal centres: In 2024, the average duration of detention was of 4 working days or 6 calendar days,[64] in full conformity with the law,[65] on the background of 45% decrease[66] in the number of asylum seekers in the country compared to previous year. As a result, of all third-country nationals who applied for protection in a police detention centre, 99%[67] were released on average 1 day before the statutory deadline, and no one was unlawfully detained for more than 6 months.First introduced in 2015, the SAR practice of registering asylum seekers in police pre-removal (detention) centres to meet the registration deadline,[68] as well as conducting proceedings and delivering decisions in these detention centres, was not sanctioned by national courts,[69] which in most cases regarded it as an infringement of the procedure of limited importance. Starting in 2022, the SAR took significant steps to address this malpractice, ultimately achieving its complete elimination by 2024, with no registrations or determinations conducted in a police pre-removal detention centre.[70]
- Detention in closed reception centres: National legislation allows detention pending the asylum procedure, although on limited grounds and for the shortest period possible.[71] Since the introduction of the provision,[72] in total 216 asylum seekers have been detained in closed reception centre[73] pending their status determination situation, mainly based on national security grounds, of whom 68 asylum seekers in 2024.[74] The average duration of detention in closed reception centres increased, reaching 86 days on average in 2024.[75]
Content of international protection
- Civil registration: To be registered in the national database, any beneficiary of international protection has to indicate, inter alia, a domicile.[76] Following the peak of arrivals and recognitions in 2014-2016 the newly recognised beneficiaries who have lived in reception centres were no longer permitted by the SAR to state the address of the respective reception centre as domicile. Therefore, since the end of 2016 beneficiaries of international protection could not provide a valid address or domicile in order to be registered in national civil registrations database and obtain national ID number, which is a prerequisite to be issued a valid identity document. This legal ‘catch 22’ has led to continuous malpractice, including false renting and address registrations for the sake of enabling beneficiaries to obtain identity documents, as the valid identity document is a pre-condition to exercising their rights. Following extensive advocacy efforts from civil society organisations, the law was amended in October 2024,[77] to enable[78] the newly recognised refugees and subsidiary protection holders who cannot state a domicile address when registering for the first time in the population register, or applying for a permanent or current address, to be registered at an officially prescribed service address by the municipality where they have established their habitual residence. This provision entered into force on 8 December 2024, with all municipalities obliged until 8 January 2025 to assign service address or addresses to be able to implement the new arrangement. v Integration: In 2024, the Vitosha and Oborishte districts of the metropolitan municipality remained the only ones to sign integration agreements with newly recognized refugees in Bulgaria. In 2024, 2 integration agreements were concluded with respect to family members.[79] No other integration measures or activities were planned, funded or available to individuals granted international protection – refugee or humanitarian status. No program for the integration of displaced persons from Ukraine under temporary protection was adopted throughout 2024. Thus, Bulgaria marked its 11th year of the national “zero integration” policy.
- Special measures for unaccompanied children: The asylum authority, SAR, continued to actively search opportunities to accommodate unaccompanied children in licensed family-type children’s centres (ЦНСТ). During the asylum procedure such efforts were undertaken mainly regarding minor asylum-seeking children,[80] children with special needs or such identified as being at increased risk of trafficking or harm. After recognition, these efforts targeted all unaccompanied children, excluding those in family reunification procedures, who were allowed to wait for the reunification with their parents or other family members in SAR reception centres.[81] As a result of this positive practice, a total of 62 unaccompanied children were accommodated during the course of the year in specialized childcare centres, of whom 4 were asylum seeking children and 58 children granted international protection. At the same time, it is important to acknowledge and consider the lack of specialized training among the childcare centre’s staff for working with unaccompanied children seeking or granted protection, as well as the absence of secure interpretation services, at least during the initial period of accommodation and adjustment. v Cessation and withdrawal: National law envisaged an additional cessation clause compared to the 1951 Refugee Convention.[82] The law permitted cessation or revocation of the international protection if the status holders fail, in a period of thirty days, to renew their expired Bulgarian identity documents or to replace them if they have been lost, stolen or destroyed. The undue cessation of international protection has affected 4,405 status holders in total since then, respectively – 770 persons in 2018; 2,608 persons in 2019; 886 persons in 2020 and 100 persons in 2021 and 41 persons in 2022. In 2024, this malpractice was fully abandoned by SAR, with 0 cessations made on this additional ground.
Temporary protection (see Temporary Protection Annex)
Content of temporary protection
- Housing: On 16 November 2022, the caretaker cabinet of the pro-Russian president Rumen Radev adopted a decision amending the Humanitarian Aid Programme for displaced persons from Ukraine,[83] allowing the TP holders already accommodated in hotels and licensed guest houses to remain there until the end of the temporary protection regime, but allowing the provision of government-funded accommodation to newly arriving Ukrainian refugees, although only in the government/municipal resort facilities with available places. From 16 November 2022 onwards however, the government revoked all measures on food assistance to TP beneficiaries. None of the following amendments of the HAP Programme changed this situation. None either provided for any additional integration measures or other tailored support. Another highly criticized measure was the decision of the TP Task Force of the caretaker cabinet to dedicate the detention centre of Elhovo, built with EU funding and designed for detention of irregular migrants entering from Türkiye, to be used as an initial reception and internal relocation hub for all arrivals from Ukraine that took place after the end of October 2022. This centre consists of containers, man and women have to share common bathrooms with no other services, amenities or utilities and food or healthcare assistance are not provided. On 4 November 2022, a group of 25 newly arrived Ukrainian refugees were accommodated in the Elhovo centre with no food, medical aid, social assistance or information provided.[84] The group grew to count 31 individuals who, after spending in three weeks without undergoing any identification process or receiving information about their future relocation and more permanent accommodation, opted to leave Bulgaria and seek refuge in Romania. Since then,[85] 1,482 displaced persons from Ukraine passed through the Elhovo center for an average period of 3 to 5 days.[86]
[1] Central Elections Commission, Archive of the held parliamentarian elections, available at: https://www.cik.bg/bg/37
[2] Politico, Republic of Radev: Bulgaria’s impasse empowers its elusive president, 31 March 2023, available at: https://bit.ly/3uPEir2. See also: BIRN, Bulgaria’s Pro-Russian President Eyes Opportunity in Political Chaos, 2 December 2024, available here.
[3] Bulgarian National Television, Newsfeed, Мариана Тошева е новият председател на държавната агенция за бежанците, 23 March 2022, available here.
[4] SAR, Response under Article 25 of the Law on Access to Public Information, reg. №АД-07-47 from 9 December 2024.
[5] MOI statistics, December 2024 report: 2,543 individuals apprehended at entry borders in 2024, of whom 96% or 2,432 individuals apprehended at the border with Türkiye, published on 16 January 2025, available in Bulgarian at: https://bit.ly/49x8Dd3.
[7] MOI statistics, December 2024 Report, Tables on page 2, Migrants, who independently returned to the territory of neighboring countries, published on 16 January 2025, available in Bulgarian at: https://bit.ly/49x8Dd3.
[8] Ibid.
[9] MOI statistics, December 2024 Report, Migrants, who independently returned to the territory of neighboring countries, Tables on page 2, published on 16 January 2025, available in Bulgarian at: https://bit.ly/49x8Dd3.
[10] GDBP-UNHCR-BHC, 2023 Annual Border Monitoring Report, published on 31 March 2024, available at: https://bit.ly/4bU9INC, 5.
[11] MOI statistics: 2,543 individuals apprehended at entry borders in 2024, of whom 2,432 individuals at the border with Türkiye (2023: 1,803 individuals, of whom 1,729 at the border with Türkiye), available in Bulgarian at: https://bit.ly/49x8Dd3.
[12] State Agency for Refugees, 135th Coordination meeting, held on 30 January 2025.
[13] See: https://ukraine.gov.bg/.
[14] Euractive, ‘Чужди полицаи ще помагат на границата с Турция след влизането в Шенген’, 23 November 2024, available in Bulgarian here.
[15] Mediapool, ‘Шенген: Границата с Турция вече се пази от служители на четири държави’, 3 February 2025, available in Bulgarian here.
[16] Monthly Situation Report for December 2024: 55 asylum seekers; according to MOI statistics another 75 unaccompanied children referred to Agency for Social Assistance by the Border police, available in Bulgarian at: https://bit.ly/49x8Dd3.
[17] Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, 2024 Annual Refugee Status Determination Monitoring Report, 31 January 2025, available at: https://bit.ly/4bU9INC.
[18] §5 Additional Clauses, LAR: SAR can implement asylum procedures outside its premises at places designated for this purpose by an order of the SAR Chairperson prior the establishment of its transit centers; the Pastrogor transit center was open on 3 May 2012. Source: Citybuild, available in Bulgarian here.
[19] Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, 2024 Annual Refugee Status Determination Monitoring Report, 31 January 2025, available at: https://bit.ly/4bU9INC.
[20] Bulgarian National Television, ‘Началникът на отдел “Миграция” в СДВР е задържан с подкуп’, 20 January 2025, available in Bulgarian here.
[21] SAR, reg. №АД-07-7 from 14 January 2025: 12,250 asylum seekers who applied in 2024 and 6,051 asylum seekers pending determination from 2023.
[22] Ibid.
[23] SAR, Annual statistics for 2024, available in Bulgarian at: https://bit.ly/3wDKXoU.
[24] SAR, reg. №АД-07-7 from 14 January 2025.
[25] Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, 2024 Annual Refugee Status Determination Monitoring Report, 31 January 2025, available at: https://bit.ly/4bU9INC.
[26] Previous refugee recognition rates: 1% in 2023; 2% in 2022; 4% in 2021; 13% in 2020; 13% in 2019; 15% in 2018; 14% in 2017; 25% in 2016; 76% in 2015; 69% in 2014.
[27] Previous subsidiary protection rates: 65% in 2023; 89% in 2022; 57% in 2021; 47% in 2020; 15% in 2019; 20% in 2018; 18% in 2017; 19% in 2016; 14% in 2015; 25% in 2014.
[28] Previous rejection rates: 39% in 2023; 9% in 2022; 39% in 2021; 39% in 2020; 71% in 2019; 65% in 2018; 68% in 2017; 56% in 2016; 10% in 2015; 6% in 2014.
[29] AIDA update on Bulgaria, April 2024, Differential treatment of specific nationalities in the procedure.
[30] 2023 AIDA update: 14% overall recognition with 5% refugee recognition rate and 9% subsidiary protection rate vs 65% rejection / 2022 AIDA update: 49% overall recognition with 14% refugee recognition rate and 35% subsidiary protection rate vs 51% rejection rate.
[31] 1,969 discontinued procedures out of all 2,296 decisions taken in 2024 with respect to Afghan nationals.
[32] See, Table Statistics, page 9 of this report: 327 Afghan decisions on the merits.
[33] Article 15(c) of 2011/95/EC Directive.
[34] SAR, reg. №АД-07-7 from 14 January 2025.
[35] See, AIDA Country Updates on Bulgaria: Forth Update from October 2015, 2016 Update from February 2017, 2017 Update from February 2018, 2018 Update from January 2019, 2019 Update from February 2020, 2020 Update from February 2021 and 2021 Update from February 2022.
[36] 118th Coordination meeting held on 22 December 2022.
[37] SAR reg. №АД-07-7 from 14 January 2025.
[38] SAR reg. №АД-07-47 from 9 December 2024.
[39] SAR reg.№ЦУ-РД05-123/27.02.2024.
[40] 129th Coordination meeting, 9 May 2024.
[41] SAR reg. №АД-07-7 from 14 January 2025: 91 disinfections in total, of which 12 in Ovcha Kupel, 13 in Voenna Rampa, 29 in Vrazhdebna, 12 in Harmanli, 13 in Banya and 12 in Pastrogor.
[42] National Statistical Institute, Annual inflation rates: +2.2% in 2024; +9.5% in 2023; and +17% in 2022, available in Bulgarian here.
[43] SAR, Order No 31-310, 31 March 2015, issued by the Chairperson Nikola Kazakov.
[44] SAR reg. №АД-07-7 from 14 January 2025.
[45] Ibid.
[46] DW, ‘След побоя в София: спусъкът с “Мигранти вън!’, 11 March 2024, available in Bulgarian here; 24 Hours, ‘Рехав протест против бежанците се проведе в София, 31 March 2024, available in Bulgarian here; BTV, Протест срещу бежанците в Харманли: Хората настояват те да бъдат преместени извън града, 22 march 2024, available in Bulgarian here; BNR, Жители на Харманли отново протестираха срещу бежанския център, 6 April 2024, available in Bulgarian here.
[47] Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, reg.No.Б-67 from 4 August 2022.
[48] Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, reg.No.Б-88 from 18 September 2023.
[49] SAR, reg. No. №РД05-31 from 15 January 2024; SAR reg. №АД-07-7 from 14 January 2025.
[50] 127th Coordination meeting, held on 28 December 2023.
[51] Article 14, para 5 of the Law on Ministry of Interior, St.G. №33 from 12 April 2024.
[52] Bulgarian national television, ‘МВР ще охранява центровете за бежанци, решиха депутатите’, available in Bulgarian here.
[53] SAR, Откриване на сигурна зона за непридружени деца-бежанци в РПЦ-Харманли, 16 May 2024, available in Bulgarian here.
[54] 2024: 2,601 unaccompanied children; 2023: 3,843 unaccompanied children / 2022: 3,348 unaccompanied children / 2021: 3,172 unaccompanied children.
[55] SAR reg. №АД-07-7 from 14 January 2025.
[56] Ibid., 2022: 26 children (2 asylum seeking and 24 granted protection); 2023: 43 children (2 asylum seeking and 41 granted protection); 2024: 62 children (4 asylum seeking and 58 granted protection).
[57] Article 29 (9) LAR.
[58] Article 29 (1) LAR.
[59] SAR, Order No 31-310, 31 March 2015, issued by the Chairperson Nikola Kazakov.
[60] Law on Asylum and Refugees (LAR), Article 29 (3).
[61] SAR reg. №АД-07-7 from 14 January 2025.
[62] Employment Agency, reg. No. РД-08-1915 from 27 December 2024.
[63] Ibid.
[64] 2023: 5 working/7 calendar days; 2022: 6 calendar/4 working days; 2021: 7 calendar/5 working days; 2020: 8 calendar/6 working days; 2019: 11 calendar/9 working days; 2018: 9 calendar/7 working days; 2017: 19 calendar/15 working days; 2016: 9 calendar/7 working days; 2015: 10 calendar/8 working days; 2014: 11 calendar/9 working days; 2013: 45 days/32 working days.
[65] Article 58(4) LAR, Article 6(2) APD: 6 working days.
[66] 2023: 22,518; 2022: 20,407 asylum seekers / 2023: 22,518 asylum seekers.
[67] Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, 2024 Annual Refugee Status Determination Monitoring Report, 31 January 2025, available at: https://bit.ly/4bU9INC.
[68] 6 working or 8 calendar days as per Article 58(4) LAR in conjunction with Article 6(1) APD.
[69] See, AIDA updates on Bulgaria in 2019 to 2021.
[70] BHC 2024 Annual RSD Monitoring report, 1.1.2. Procedure at the police detention centers, page 8, available at: https://bit.ly/3Y3WzJJ.
[71] Article 45b LAR.
[72] State Gazette No.80 from 16 October 2015, enforced on 1 January 2016.
[73] A special compartment allocated in Busmantsi detention center’s premises.
[74] SAR reg. №АД-07-7 from 14 January 2025.
[75] 2023: 78 days; 2022: 56 days; 2021: 86 days; 2020: 91 days; 2019: 252 days; 2018: 192 days, 2017: 202 days.
[76] Article 90 (1) Law on Civil Registration.
[77] State Gazette No.85 from 8 October 2024.
[78] Article 93 (6), as well as §1 Additional Clauses Law on Civil Registration.
[79] Statistics provided by the SAR Deputy Chair on Social Matters on 3 February 2025; 2023: 22 beneficiaries of international protection; 2022: 20 beneficiaries; 2021: 83 beneficiaries.
[80] Articles 3 and 4 Law on Persons and Entities: 0-13 minors / 14-17 adolescents.
[81] SAR, Rules and procedures on the accommodation of unaccompanied children granted international protection in foster families, social or integrated socio-medical care facilities for children of a residential type, adopted in October 2022.
[82] Article 42(5) LAR, State Gazette No. 89 from 16 October 2020.
[83] COM №909 from 16 November 2022.
[84] Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, Who accommodated Ukrainian refugees in Elhovo detention center?, available in Bulgarian at: https://bit.ly/3VsIOUu.
[85] From 4 November 2022 until 1 March 2024.
[86] Source: Elhovo Regional Security Police Directorate, Migration department.