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"The only thing they left us were our clothes"

Date & Time 2024-07-19
Location Somewhere in Strandzha Nature Park in Bulgaria
Reported by Collective Aid
Coordinates 42.0858481, 27.6811755
Pushback from Bulgaria
Pushback to Turkey
Taken to a police station no
Minors involved yes
WLTI* involved no
Men involved yes
Age 16
Group size 15
Countries of origin Afghanistan
Treatment at police station or other place of detention
Overall number of policemen and policewomen involved 2
Violence used beating (with batons/hands/other), kicking, pushing people to the ground, theft of personal belongings
Police involved 1 Bulgarian army officer. 1 other officer speaking Bulgarian and dressed in a black uniform. 1 police dog.

During the night of July 19, 2024, a group of 15 Afghan men, including 5-6 minors, crossed the Turkish-Bulgarian border.

The respondent couldn’t pinpoint the exact location as they did not have a map at the time and it was dark, but he described crossing through Strandzha Nature Park in Bulgaria and crossing an electric fence. 

The group walked for 1 and a half to 2 hours through the national park after crossing the border. They soon became suspicious that the police were following them, so out of fear of getting caught they stopped and sat down to hide. Shortly after this, they were found by a police dog. 

Two officers arrived by foot, having followed the dog. The respondent described one officer wearing a camouflage uniform. When shown a picture of the Bulgarian army uniform, he confirmed it to be the same. He then said that the second officer was wearing a black uniform, and also spoke Bulgarian. However, he was unable to identify any insignia or specific details on the uniform because it was dark at the time of the pushback.

The two officers spoke to them in Bulgarian, but no one in the transit group could understand due to language barriers.

The officers then demanded to check everyone’s documents. After this, they proceeded to take all of their belongings, including IDs, phones, bags, money, and all other remaining documents. Of everything taken, only 2 IDs were returned. 

‘‘The only thing they left us were our clothes.”

At this point the violence escalated; the Bulgarian army officer started kicking, beating (with his hands), and pushing several people from the group for approximately 5-10 minutes. The respondent himself was not harmed. 

Afterward, the entire transit group was immediately taken back to Turkey on foot and left in the forest.