site.btaUPDATED Socialist Leader, Interior Minister Clash over Migrants Sent Back to Bulgaria by Germany

Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) leader Korneliya Ninova and Interior Minister Kalin Stoyanov clashed in Parliament Friday after Ninova alleged that Germany has sent back 23 migrants to Bulgaria, including six sentenced offenders. Ninova made her allegations in a strong-worded remarks for the press in the corridors of Parliament, which the Interior Minister denied during Question Time in the legislature. 

Ninova said that "the Bulgarian government and this majority are turning Bulgaria into a punitive colony for murderers, rapists and money launderers". She cited a document from the Bavarian State Office for Asylum and Repatriation, which allegedly said that on February 8, 2024, the German authorities sent on a Munich Airport flight to Sofia 23 people, among them six with sentences for murder, causing grave bodily harm, sex crimes, theft and money laundering.  She said that "the cost of the half-Schengen" will be making Bulgaria "a criminals' haven". She also said that "Austria started it all and now Germany follows suit". "Bulgaria cannot be a ghetto for criminals and murders from Afghanistan and Syria and we want this to stop!" she said.

Interior Minister Kalin Stoyanov said during Question Time that the six "migrants" are Bulgarian citizens, born in Bulgaria and with Bulgarian names - which he specified after Ninova suggested that those were Syrians who acquired Bulgarian citizenship - that they have served out their sentences and Bulgaria cannot ban their return. "They have a criminal record and if they go back to their criminal ways, we will interfere," said Stoyanov.

Another 18 people sent back by Germany, are Syrian nationals and they have never been sentenced. They have a humanitarian status and were returned to Bulgaria in a readmission procedure.

He said that there has been a significant increase in the number of illegal migrants sent back to the country of origin.

Later on Friday, the Interior Ministry put out a statement by Kalin Stoyanov where he calls for "a responsible attitude and not playing with people's fears".

He says there: "The said Syrian citizens have been granted international protection in Bulgaria over the years, giving them the right to reside on the territory of this country. They have been issued with Bulgarian identity documents and foreign travel certificates, which allow them to leave and enter the country. It is on this basis that the Syrians fall within the scope of the readmission agreement, and not the Dublin Regulation, and are admitted to Bulgaria pursuant to it. The agreement between the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany covers the return of both own (Bulgarian) and third-country nationals who have a certain type of legal residence in Bulgaria. As an EU Member State, Bulgaria will continue to implement all international instruments it has joined, including the Dublin Regulation and readmission agreements."

He goes on to say that "incorrect handling of concepts in order to deliberately mislead the public is disinformation that we should all fight against together".