Belgrade Accuses Sofia of Stealing 'Serbian' Citizens

Belgrade is accusing Sofia of a policy of "bulgarization" of Serbs even though both countries allow dual citizenship. File photo

Serbs become Bulgarians through a very short procedure, taking just one day, according to Serbian press.

In four years over 2 000 Serbs have profited from the alleviated procedure, a publication in the Belgrade-based daily newspaper "Kurier," entitled "Unseen - Bulgaria Robs Serbia of Its Citizens," informs.

According to the article, this is a policy of "bulgarization." The newspaper further cites a statement of a citizen of Serbia, living inside the country, saying that he was granted Bulgarian citizenship in a very short time, although he was born in Skopje.

"Bulgaria grants citizenship to all who were born in Macedonia and Eastern Serbia, and in the territories to which before the Balkan Wars Bulgaria had claims," said the reader.

Bosilegrad Mayor Vladimir Zahariev had confirmed the validity of the statement. According to Zahariev, anyone who wants dual citizenship can obtain it with the help of the Town Hall.

"We cooperate with the State Agency for Bulgarians Abroad and everything is free," Zahariev explains. He further states that Bulgaria gives scholarships to 73 students from Bosilegrad studying in Sofia. The Chief of the Serbian Border Police, in turn, is quoted saying that everything was lawful because Serbian law recognizes dual citizenship.

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