Agency for Bulgarians

Russian individuals residing in Bulgaria are expressing grievances over mass denials of Bulgarian citizenship applications. Many applicants claim that their requests are rejected primarily due to insufficient proof of Bulgarian origin.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has appointed 67-year-old Eleonora Mitrofanova as ambassador of the Russian Federation to Bulgaria, RIA Novosti has reported.

By a decision of the government, Petar Haralampiev was released from the post of chairperson of the State Agency for Bulgarians Abroad, the government press office said on 5th of November. Haralampiev's position will be temporarily filled by the Deputy Chairperson of the Agency, Dimitar Vladimirov, until new Chair is appointment.

The Chairman of the Agency for Bulgarians Abroad is accused of leading an organised criminal group, bribery and trading in influence, prosecutor Angel Kanev who oversees the investigation said at a briefing, Focus News Agency reports. The criminal activity began in June 2017.

The State Agency for Bulgarians Abroad, SABA, issued around 40 certificates a week over the past year falsely identifying foreign citizens as having Bulgarian heritage, the country's Specialised Prosecution said on Wednesday.

The Great Bulgarian Summit, brought into existence by both NGOs and public figures, is set to take place on September 16-17 at the alleged mount of Khan Kubrat (605-665 AD) near the village of Mala Pereshchepina, central Ukraine.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has decided to redistribute the specific porfolios assigned to the four Deputy Prime Ministers, the government's press office has said.

The move is related to the recent appointment of Meglena Kuneva, until then Deputy PM for institutional affairs without a ministerial portfolio, as Education Minister.

Between 100 and 200 people are applying on a daily basis for certificates proving their Bulgarian descent.

This was revealed by Ivanka Slavcheva, a chief expert at the State Agency for Bulgarians Abroad, at the opening of the sixth session of the world parliament of Bulgarians.

The General Inspectorate has confirmed that the State Agency for Bulgarians Abroad has issued thousands of certificates of Bulgarian origin without receiving any proof of their origin.

A previous inspection showed citizens of Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia had been granted Bulgarian IDs without providing a document to certify their Bulgarian origins.