Bulgaria is the poorest country in the EU and therefore it is not very attractive for economic migrants, sweeping the western parts of Europe. However, after becoming a member of the EU, this country, and in particular the possibility of obtaining Bulgarian identity documents, allowing free movement in the union, attracted the interest of a number of citizens of neighboring Macedonia and Turkey; of Moldova and Ukraine. In all of these countries large Bulgarian ethnic minorities live without enjoying the EU freedom of movement. Some 10 thousand refugees fleeing from the conflicts in the Middle East and Africa, who arrived in Bulgaria, also expect receiving refugee status, which would open their ways across the union.

But so far, cases of foreign nationals who used the opportunity given by law to acquire Bulgarian citizenship after investing at least € 500,000, have not been widely known.

It seems, however, the time for such serious decisions has come for some Russians, who for various reasons have chosen to become Bulgarians and start a business in this country. It was recently reported that at least 5 Russians have become Bulgarian citizens using this method. They clearly had strong and compelling reasons to leave their homeland and settle in the beautiful and hospitable, but not economically attractive Bulgaria.

One of the reasons is certainly the cultural, linguistic, religious and historical proximity between the two Slavic peoples. Without much difficulty Russians can communicate in their own language and be understood.

Russians will not feel lonely, as tens of thousands of their compatriots have already bought apartments on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. In some Bulgarian resort towns whole Russian quarters emerged with Russian shops, kindergartens, etc. This in turn has given impetus to more entrepreneurial Russians in Bulgaria to start their own business. Besides all this, the crisis in Ukraine and the effects of western sanctions against Moscow, has affected negatively the financial condition of Russians. For some of them access to EU countries and America has become much harder. Becoming Bulgarian citizens solves all these troubles as this way Russians become fully-fledged Europeans, while Bulgaria gladly welcomes investments of 500,000 euro each.

English: Alexander Markov