Bulgaria's Kyustendil Mayor Refused Entry in Serbia

Kyustendil Mayor, Petar Paunov, confirmed reports of 50 Serbian policemen in full gear, armed and with bulletproof jackets, guarding the checkpoint on the Bulgarian border. Photo by BGNES

The Mayor of the western Bulgarian city of Kyustendil, Petar Paunov, informs he had not been allowed to enter Serbia Friday morning.

Paunov was scheduled to attend the ceremony in the town of Bosilegrad, honoring the 138th anniversary of the hanging of Bulgarian national hero and revolutionary, Vasil Levski.

Currently there are 50 armed Serbian police at the Ribartsi-Oltomantsi checkpoint on the Bulgarian-Serbian border.

Paunov told Darik radio he had not seen anything of the sort before. He had waited, along with two of his assistants, to cross the border since 8 am without any explanation of what has caused the delay. Their passports were taken as well. An hour and a half later, a Serbian representative told them they cannot enter Serbia, and they must wait for the arrival of a Bulgarian Consul in order to obtain permission.

Serbian authorities say they are not banning honoring Levski's memory, but are trying to prevent a large gathering in Bosilegrad over safety concerns.

Paunov confirmed reports of 50 Serbian policemen in full gear, armed and with bulletproof jackets, adding he had never seen more than 2 police employees at the checkpoint.

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