The Bulgarian authorities report increased migrant pressure towards Bulgaria. Since the beginning of the year, Border Police officers have detained 1,686 illegal crossings of the border and prevented over 110,000 attempts by immigrants to enter the country at the Bulgarian-Turkish border. Due to the increased migrant pressure, a partial state of emergency has been declared in areas of Yambol and Haskovo and Burgas regions. Migrants cross the border daily with the help of traffickers. The local population is worried ‎and constantly reports illegal groups roaming in the area.‎

It turns out that the road passing through the village of Troyanovo near Burgas /Southeastern Bulgaria/, numbering 1,210 inhabitants, is the closest connection of the illegal refugees to the Thrace Motorway from where they continue their route to Western Europe. Only in the past week, two such groups were detained with the assistance of the residents of the village. People are afraid of the growing presence of illegal foreign citizens and are demanding more serious Border Patrol enforcement. The mayor of Troyanovo, Dimitar Nikolov, told the BNR:

"Everything happens with a signal from the residents of the village of Troyanovo. At every signal, people are detained. For most of them, the final destination is Germany. They don't have any personal documents. They also enter the village - we have two signals after 22 hours. There was a case in the very centre – a man was sitting at the bus stop and waiting! But in most cases they are exhausted, without water, without food. It is only human - we are looking to give them water, to feed them."‎

Outsmarting the traffickers of illegal refugees is a daily routine for the residents of Troyanovo. Mayor Dimitar Nikolov even made a topographical map of their routes and their way to the highway. In addition, he has warned his fellow villagers to report illegal groups to him personally or to the Border Police. ‎

‎"We have 20 cows in an electropasture. They passed through there because there is a fountain, they cut it off. The animals ran away, we have been looking for them for five days. One cow costs 2,000 BGN. We found them, but they are causing trouble. They pass along the edges, in the vineyards. What should we do? It's good that the mayor is there - he comes by, picks them up, feeds them," said Ivanka Toneva. Like her, people in the village express their concern about the influx of illegal migrants.

Ilia Valkov from the village of Troyanovo adds: ‎

"How can we not be afraid? We have small children. For example, if they go to kindergarten or school, and their breakfast gets stolen - isn't it scary? I live on the edge of the village. They can get inside my house, they can do anything. They should be taken away, at least! Let the gendarmerie or the police be sent in, but let it be guarded here!"‎

The residents of Troyanovo are calling on the authorities to increase the police presence to ensure their safety. ‎

The intense work of the District Court in the seaside city testifies to the growing migrant pressure through the Burgas region. From there, they report an increase in illegal traffic cases in recent months. In September alone, 132 defendants and witnesses were questioned in cases of illegally assisting foreigners to reside in the country. Since the beginning of the year, there have been 28 convictions for illegal trafficking.

Compiled by Veneta Nikolova (based on a report of Petya Yanakiev from BNR-Burgas)

Photos: BNR Burgas