Send to Kindle
Since the start of 2023, Bulgaria has seen a drastic surge in trafficking-related pre-trial proceedings, with 1,277 cases initiated, marking a staggering 60% increase compared to the same period in 2022. This revelation came from Interior Minister Kalin Stoyanov during a forum in Brussels. Shockingly, more than 90% of those implicated in the country's trafficking networks are individuals who are not Bulgarian citizens.
The upsurge in legal actions against traffickers, particularly within the last few months, aligns with recent legislative changes. These new regulations have led to a significant uptick in legal actions, with authorities seizing over 400 vehicles—comprising buses, trucks, and cars—used for transporting migrants. Alongside this crackdown, the number of convictions related to human trafficking has spiked by 31%. Impressively, 809 individuals have faced convictions within the initial nine months of this year, a figure tripling that of 2021.
These alarming statistics underscore the prominence of non-citizens in perpetrating illegal migrant trafficking within Bulgaria. The sharp increase in legal actions and convictions reflects the country's intensified efforts to combat this concerning trend.
The 2024 Human Freedom Index (HFI), compiled by the Cato Institute and the Canadian Fraser Institute, evaluates personal and economic freedoms across 165 countries
In 2024, Bulgaria’s electricity sector faced significant challenges, with a sharp decline in exports and a rise in domestic consumption
In late December, three migrant teens died in Bulgaria after being abandoned in the forest near the border with Turkey
The weather on January 15 is expected to be predominantly cloudy throughout Bulgaria, with occasional light snow showers, especially in the southern regions
On January 15, a ceremony at the Naval Headquarters in Varna will mark the handover of command of the Naval Mine Countermeasures Group in the Black Sea
Bulgaria has extended an offer to North Macedonia
By the end of April, Bulgaria is set to receive the first two of its eight F-16 fighter jets, with the first delivery scheduled for January 31 in Greenville. Acting Minister of Defense Atanas
Bulgaria is set to participate in NATO's largest exercise of 2025, "Steadfast Dart 2025" (STDT25), which will be held across Bulgaria, Greece, and Romania in the first quarter of the year
Former Bulgarian Defense Minister Prof. Todor Tagarev described the idea of NATO countries allocating 5% of GDP to defense as unrealistic, labeling it a significant financial burden
The Ministry of Defense has announced that Bulgaria's military districts are in the process of updating their reserve lists
Acting Minister of Defense Atanas Zapryanov has expressed optimism about the prospects for Bulgaria’s armed forces in 2025
Following Bulgaria and Romania's accession to Schengen, the responsibilities of control institutions have expanded significantly, requiring more precise and comprehensive checks
Bulgaria's Perperikon: A European Counterpart to Peru's Machu Picchu
Bulgarians Among EU's Least Frequent Vacationers, Struggling with Affordability
