Bulgarian Turkish Border Blockade Lifted, Traffic Still Heavy

Truck lines are still reported at the Bulgarian-Turkish border despite lifting the blockades. Photo by BGNES

The Bulgarian tractor trailer blockade at the Kapitan Andreevo-Kapakule border crossing point between Bulgaria and Turkey has been lifted late Friday evening – around 9:40 pm.

The checkpoint is open for all traffic as all demands have been met after negotiations between Bulgaria's caretaker Transport Minister, Christian Krastev, the Deputy Regional Governor of Edirne and the Customs Chief of Kapakule.

The other checkpoint between the two countries – Lessovo is also open and the blockade there has been lifted as well.

The truck line at Kapitan Andreevo is 5-km-long Saturday morning; the one at Lessovo – about 3 km.

Car and bus traffic is moving freely.

The blockade caused the cancellation of the Depeche Mode concert in Istanbul as their trucks with equipment got stuck at the border Friday afternoon.

Bulgarian drivers and truck owners were protesting the hurdles for their business on the other side of the border and unfair competition. They complain from unfounded restrictions such as not allowing into Turkish territory trucks carrying over 500 liters of fuel or making drivers wait at the Turkish border for days.

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