2nd Group of Bulgarian Roma Arrives in Sofia from Paris

The Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Vesela Cherneva, says the deportation of Roma from France would not interfere with Bulgaria’s entry in the Schengen zone. Photo by BGNES

The second group of 13 Bulgarian Roma deported from France landed at Sofia airport Wednesday evening.

5 of them are children. They were met by an employee of the Agency for Social Assistance. The group spent the night in Sofia and is transferred Thursday to the Black Sea city of Varna on another plane, because this is where most of them came from.

Those willing to speak to the media said they returned on their own will, have not been pressured, were treated well and all expenses were paid by the French government. One woman explained they learned from newspapers they had to leave, and understood it was because they worked illegally and never registered a permanent address. There are Bulgarians in France, including Roma, dealing with robberies and prostitution, but not in this group, she said.

Most, however, refused to talk and some even threatened reporters they will break their cameras.

The first group of 13 arrived last Friday, and some media reported they have been ethnic Turks not Roma, but these reports remain unconfirmed. A total of 41 are expected to come back.

The Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Vesela Cherneva, announced the deportation would not interfere with Bulgaria’s entry in the Schengen zone. She informed that another group of 9 is scheduled to arrive on September 10, and another 15 on September 17, but the total number would not exceed 50.

All Bulgarian citizens, who agree to return home, receive EUR 300 from the French government (EUR 100 for children) as social assistance.

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