Bulgaria rejects media report about refugee shot at border

News About Turkey - NAT
2 Min Read

(AP) — Bulgaria rejected accusations that its border guards shot a Syrian refugee in October after a video released Monday showed a man being fired at on European country’s border with Turkey.

The footage of an asylum-seeker being hit with live ammunition on Oct. 3 was part of a joint investigation by several European media outlets led by Lighthouse Reports.

In the video recorded on the Turkish side of the border, a young man falls to the ground after a bullet goes through his hand and into his chest.

The man, in separate footage captured days later, identified himself as 19-year-old Abdullah El Rustum of Syria. He said he was shot by Bulgarian border officers after his group was caught while illegally entering Bulgaria and pushed back to Turkey.

The Bulgarian government denied the allegations, arguing that servicemembers guarding the border strictly followed international and domestic laws.

“There are no cases of violence against migrants,” Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev told reporters.

Demerdzhiev said foreign media have reported more frequently lately about migration across the Bulgarian-Turkish border. The joint investigation led by Lighthouse Reports included British broadcaster Sky News, French newspaper Le Monde, SRF, U.K newspaper The Times, Italian newspaper Domani, RFE/RL’s Bulgarian Service and German broadcaster ARD.

Asked about the Oct. 3 encounter, the minister said: “Just recently, an incident that we have been investigating for a long time with our Turkish colleagues has become public.”

“There are clear conclusions from both sides that there is no evidence that a shot has been fired by a Bulgarian border policeman and that no active actions have been taken to violate anyone’s human rights,” Demerdzhiev said.

He added that border officers recently have faced more aggression from people trying to enter Bulgaria without authorization, including some who used stones and knives.

“If anyone expects that the Bulgarian police will not respond to such actions, they are wrong,” Demerdzhiev said.

Share This Article
Founded by a small group of Turkish/Kurdish scholars who have been subjected to persecution at the hands of the Erdogan dictatorship, News About Turkey (NAT) has emerged as a platform that is both exceptional and invaluable. Our objective is to provide you with a comprehensive and sophisticated understanding of the events and developments in Turkey (Türkiye), a country with profound historical and geopolitical importance, a vibrant culture, and a strategic location. Our founders, who have been purged by the Erdogan regime after the so-called coup attempt, are aware of the significance of journalism that is both free and independent. Because of this understanding, we are committed to providing reporting and analysis that is both objective and comprehensive. To give you the most thorough coverage of Turkey, we go further than just scratching the surface. Keep in touch with us so that you can have a better understanding of Turkey's developing story as well as vital and comprehensive news items. Whether you are a resident of Turkey, a member of the Turkish/Kurdish diaspora, or simply someone who has a strong interest in this vital country, we are the most reliable source for news that not only informs but also inspires and engages you.
Leave a comment