site.btaDefence Minister Karakachanov Adamant that Bulgarian Military Airports Not Used for Illegal Bringing of Imigrants

Sofia, July 18 (BTA) - Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Krassimir Karakachanov once again refuted as fake news reports published on many websites that migrants are secretly being transported into Bulgaria on military aircraft.

"Only Bulgarian and ally countries' aircraft land on Bulgarian military airports. The aircraft carry out military assignments, and are not used for illegal bringing of migrants as claimed by a number of websites. This is absolutely impossible without my sanction," Karakachanov said, calling on the cabinet to order a check by the competent authorities "who is behind the campaign to disturb society and create tension".

Karakachanov repeated that migrant centres are filled at 11 per cent of their capacity at the moment, with no new persons being brought in, unlike in 2016 when the capacity was 103 per cent full.

Prime Minister Borissov declined to comment "fake news". "My words are relayed in so many ways that monstrous news appear which are used to play on people's fears," Borissov said, reiterating that Bulgaria has not committed itself to take on illegal migrants "neither for money, nor for free".

The Prime Minister said that the border police have apprehended people smugglers who were carrying 26 people in two jeeps. The group had been watched non-stop for ten days. In the chase one of the cars overturned but no one was seriously injured, Borissov said.