site.btaBulgaria's Maritime Border Must Be Protected as Effectively as Land Border - Interior Minister

During a news briefing here on Friday, Bulgaria’s Interior Minister Daniel Mitov stressed the need to protect the country’s maritime border as effectively as the land border. "When we speak of Bulgaria as the European Union’s external border with Turkiye, we often think of the fence and the land border. We must remember that we have a maritime border, and it must be protected just as effectively as the land border," Mitov said. He was visiting Sozopol, where the Border Police Directorate was holding an exercise, called Blue Border, aimed at combating cross-border crime at sea.

Friday's exercise is designed to showcase the coordination and capabilities of Bulgaria's border police officers. Such exercises are crucial for intercepting vessels involved in drug trafficking, the Minister said. He praised the efforts of the police, noting that successful border control would not be possible without good coordination with neighboring countries.

Mitov expressed his condolences for the police officer who died during a protest outside the National Assembly on Thursday. The Minister added that the police are working hard on all fronts, and it is inevitable that some will feel exhausted. "But I have not heard anyone complain or grumble," he said.

Responding to questions from reporters about why he had become one of the most criticized ministers, Mitov said that the opposition always suspects that the Interior Ministry is responsible for all problems. "Since it has failed to take control of the ministry, it tries to attack it. Unfortunately, a large part of the opposition relies on disinformation, which it spreads itself and then blames the Interior Ministry for. This is how trust in institutions is being undermined," Mitov said.