Interior Minister Kalin Stoyanov Friday spoke of inadequate coordination of the efforts against illegal migration, which made 2022 "the bleakest year for the Interior Ministry". That was before Stoyanov stepped in office.
The Minister was in the Black Sea city of Burgas for a commemorative service for two police officers who were run over by a van with illegal migrants and died in the line of duty a year ago. A monument was unveiled at the location of their demise.
"Sadly, 2022 was the most tragic and bleak year in the history of the Ministry of Interior in the last 20 years. Five of our officers lost their lives. I hope that this will be the last such dark year. Many mistake were made - by many people. There was inadequate coordination, communication and organization of the activities of all the structures involved in the fight against illegal migration," said the Minister.
"Inadequate organization and control in the Interior Ministry structures" are also mentioned in a report whereby the Interior Minister asks the President to remove the Interior Ministry Secreteray General, Petar Todorov. Made public by the Ministry on Friday, the report blames Todorov for bringing about the death of six police officers in their line of duty, and for the increased crime incidence, including domestic violence and several high-profile deaths. President Rumen Radev has already refused to fire Todorov.
Kalin Stoyanov also said in Burgas that the situation with illegal migration is dynamic. "In the last 24 hours alone we have had 800 attempts for illegal border crossings. 80 illegal migrants were detained in the interior of the country. We are doing our best," the Minister said. He pointed out that there are a number of police officers posted from the interior of the country to the border. Defence Ministry officers are also helping, he added.
"I am personally trying to make a difference. Caretaker ministers should have done that, too," Stoyanov said.
He said the Interior Ministry is currently doing everything possible to ensure the maximum number of uniformed personnel at the border, as well as to purchase specialised equipment to guard the state border.
/DT/
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