[h=1]Macedonians, Albanians and Kosovars Have Illegally Become Bulgarians[/h]October 16, 2014, Thursday @ 13:28 in
Independent Insider »
SPECIAL REPORT | Views: 35
Hundreds of Macedonians, Albanians and Kosovars with unverified Bulgarian origin, have become naturalized Bulgarian citizens Photo: Dnevnik.mk
Hundreds of Macedonians, Albanians and Kosovars with unverified Bulgarian origin, have become naturalized Bulgarian citizens through the State Agency for the Bulgarians Abroad which failed to apply the complex procedure thus violating the law. This has been established by the inspection of the Supreme Administrative Prosecution Office, which has been informed by the Ministry of Justice of Bulgaria about these shortcomings, reports the Bulgarian newspaper "Sega," which has these documents, reads daily Dnevnik.
State Agency for Bulgarians Abroad issues certificates of Bulgarian origin thus violating the law. In the period 2011-2013, from 810 randomly selected reports, even in 717 cases it was determined that the applicants' claim of Bulgarian origin have not been substantiated by documents. The files contained only a request and a statement of Bulgarian national. Membership in organizations such as "Bulgarians in Albania" and the like had been recognized as an evidence of an origin, cites "Sega."
The Bulgarian Ministry of Justice reckons that, in spite of the prosecution, violations of law continue. The inspection showed that from the last issued 8,000 certificates of Bulgarian origin barely 1,300 were substantiated by documents that prove it. According to these findings, it appears that only 16 percent of applicants for Bulgarian citizenship are entitled to receive it.
"Officials from the State Agency for the Bulgarians Abroad systematically disregard duties when issuing certificates of Bulgarian origin, which are official documents. This can lead to serious negative consequences, because it opens up the possibility people without proper background to obtain citizenship of a European Union country", respond from the Ministry of Justice.
Council for Bulgarian citizenship within the ministry, has been trying to correct the mistakes of the Agency by requesting again an evidence of origin for the people asking for Bulgarian citizenship. However, the agency has been refusing to submit documents from the period after October 31 from last year related to the grounds thatthe certificates of Bulgarian origin have been issued.
By law, Bulgarian origin is proven by documents such as certificates of birth, identity documents or registration documents once issued by Bulgarian authorities.
Last year, 17,500 people sought passport in Sofia
The Ministry of Justice data show increase in the number of those who want to become Bulgarians, due to the Bulgaria's membership in the EU. In 2009, 5,000 people have applied for Bulgarian citizenship, and in 2013 the figure reached 17,500 claimants. Only 90 percent of them applied to obtain citizenship on the basis of Bulgarian origin, reports "Sega."
- See more at:
Macedonians, Albanians and Kosovars Have Illegally Become Bulgarians - Independent.mk