Bulgaria Nears Completion of Leva Withdrawal as 81% Taken Out of Circulation
As of February 6, 2026, Bulgaria continues to make steady progress in withdrawing the national currency, the leva, from circulation.
Number of Refugees in Bulgaria Swells to 9 567
- Tweet
Send to Kindle
Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Tsvetlin Yovchev, photo BGNES
The number of illegal immigrants in Bulgaria has reached 9 567, said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Tsvetlin Yovchev on Wednesday.
Yovchev spoke on Wednesday in the Parliament to brief the deputies on the Plan to Tackle the Refugee Crisis, which is caused by massive influx of asylum seekers in the country.
It emerged at the briefing that 5 131 of these people are housed in State shelters; another 3 741 are accommodated at other addresses, while 695 are under arrest in facilities of the Main Directorate Border Police.
The massive influx of illegal immigrants to Bulgaria does not show any signs of slowing down, said Yovchev.
Significant decrease in the number of illegal immigrants entering Bulgaria from Turkey and an increase in the number of those leaving the country permanently are among the goals of the Government's announced Plan to Tackle the Refugee Crisis, pointed out the minister.
Related Articles:
Sofia Property Prices Surge: €500 per Square Metre Increase Shocks Buyers
Property values in Sofia have surged by approximately €500 per square metre over the past year, according to data from one of Bulgaria’s largest real estate agencies. Across the country’s main cities, housing costs climbed by 20% in the final quarter of 2
Bulgaria Faces Variable Weather on Wednesday, Snow Expected in Mountain Areas
According to the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology, Wednesday, February 11, will bring varied weather conditions across the country.
Bulgarian Central Bank Reports New 10-Year Government Debt Issue Worth €150 Million
Bulgaria has taken on new debt amounting to 150 million euros through the issuance of government securities, according to results published on the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) website.
The Petrohan Case in Bulgaria: Prosecutors Outline Two Murders and One Suicide
The Prosecutor’s Office has released further details regarding the investigation into the deaths of six individuals connected to the incidents at the Petrohan lodge and under Okolchitsa Peak
Crime | February 10, 2026, Tuesday // 16:29
Bulgaria: Industrial Production Climbs Slightly, Construction Contracts in December 2025
In December 2025, Bulgaria’s industrial sector showed modest growth following two consecutive months of decline, yet on an annual basis, production fell for the 13th month in a row.
Bulgaria Begins Major Overhaul: Army Weapons Shift to NATO Standards Underway
Outgoing Bulgarian Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov confirmed that the Bulgarian Army is in the process of transitioning to NATO-standard weapons, a step aimed at modernizing its arsenal.
Bulgaria to Join Key EU Network Upgrade with Strategic Submarine Cable
The European Commission has recommended a new submarine cable connecting Bulgaria as part of its Cable Projects of European Interest (CPEI), under the EU’s Action Plan on the Security of Submarine Cables
Bulgaria Allocates EUR 58 Million to Keep Its MiG-29 Fighter Jets Operational
The Ministry of Defense has launched a public procurement procedure for the maintenance of Bulgaria’s Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets, allocating a total of EUR 58 million for a comprehensive overhaul
Italy to Fund NATO Battlegroup Base in Bulgaria, Hosting Over 3,000 Troops
Italy will fund the construction of temporary infrastructure for a NATO battlegroup base in Bulgaria, after Bulgaria’s parliamentary defence committee approved the agreement
Think Tank: Bulgaria’s Black Sea Position Strengthened as Regional Risks Grow
Bulgaria’s role in the Black Sea region is becoming increasingly significant as part of NATO’s southeastern flank and as the Alliance’s main access point to the Black Sea, according to a new report by the international think tank GLOBSEC, released on Mond
Bulgaria Approves U.S. NSM Coastal Missile System, Steps Up Naval Defense
After months of unexplained delay, the Council of Ministers on Wednesday cleared a key investment project for the Bulgarian Armed Forces, giving the green light for the purchase of modern coastal anti-ship missile systems
