site.btaBulgarians Reportedly Detained Briefly at British Airport, Foreign Minister to Look into Matter

During Question Time in Parliament Friday, Vazrazhdane asked Foreign Minister Mariya Gabriel about a case involving the detention of an unspecified number of Bulgarian nationals at Luton airport last week. Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov said that the Bulgarians were detained for six hours upon arrival from Sofia on a Wizz Air flight.

They reportedly had their phones and computers confiscated. In Kostadinov's words, they were "questioned by officers of the British secret service and were asked whether they spoke Russian, whether they were Russians and sympathized with Putin, whether they have been in Russia and vote for the extremist [pro-] Russian party Vazrazhdane".

Foreign Minister Gabriel said she was not aware of the case and promised that her Ministry would look into the matter and hold talks, including with the UK Ambassador in Bulgaria, to clarify the circumstances.

She said that when "it is about a Bulgarian national, no matter where in the world and in which country, we will make sure their rights are defended".