Bulgaria under scrutiny after deaths of teenage migrants near Turkish border
Bulgaria faces allegations of neglect regarding three Egyptian teenage boys who died in freezing temperatures near the Turkish border amid claims of obstructed rescue efforts by authorities.
Bulgaria's authorities have been accused of neglecting emergency calls and obstructing rescue efforts for three Egyptian teenage boys who tragically died from freezing temperatures near the Bulgarian-Turkish border in late December.
A report by humanitarian organisations, No Name Kitchen (NNK) and Collettivo Rotte Balcaniche (CRB), outlines evidence including photos, testimonies, and geolocations that suggest authorities failed to assist the boys despite their desperate calls for help.
The boys, identified as Ahmed Samra, 17, Ahmed Elawdan, 16, and 15-year-old Seifalla Elbeltagy, were found deceased in the cold conditions, with indications that border police may have encountered Ahmed Samra prior to his death but did not offer assistance.
Rescue attempts were thwarted by the Bulgarian border police who, according to the report, ignored pleas for help made to the emergency 112 number. One activist reported that their team faced harassment, confiscation of personal items, and a humiliating strip search by police.
Amid rising concerns about treatment of migrants at Europe's borders, NNK and CRB have demanded an independent investigation into the actions of Bulgarian authorities, stating that the circumstances leading to the teenagers' deaths represent a systemic failure in humanitarian response.
The Bulgarian interior ministry has denied allegations of negligence, asserting that their forces acted promptly and that investigations into the cases are ongoing. They highlighted that multiple search-and-rescue operations are routinely conducted to assist individuals in distress.
