Due to the mass exodus of Russian citizens to escape military mobilization, border crossing and entering neighbouring countries is getting complex in the upcoming days. That’s why the Ministry of foreign affairs of Bulgaria and Poland suggested their citizens to leave Russia as the situation can become more complicated.
According to a statement from the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the country “Calls for refraining from travel to the Russian Federation and recommends that Bulgarian citizens in the Russian Federation consider the possibility of leaving the country as soon as possible, using currently available means of transport.”
The Polish Ministry made the same statement and appealed to their citizens to return home. Poland also stated that flights arriving from Russia have also been suspended.
Bulgarians with Russian citizenship subject to mobilization
Bulgarian Ministry of foreign affairs also warned that Bulgarians with Russian citizenship might face additional problems as they are not allowed to leave Russia and get mobilized.
Kostadin Kojabashev, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and former Bulgarian ambassador, said, ” For people with dual citizenship, while they are on the territory of Russia, the Russian passport dominates, and they are treated as Russian citizens. They also have military responsibilities because they receive military papers and their Russian passport delivery. Despite the fact that they are also Bulgarian citizens, authorities will likely detain them if they attempt to leave the country.”
Kojabashev highlighted that Ministry will make every possible effort to bring back the Bulgarians with dual citizenship. He also added that the Ministry didn’t receive even a single request from the Bulgarian citizens in Russia. The department didn’t have correct information about the number of citizens living in Russia. According to the records, they are not too many.
Bulgarians with Russian passport has the right to leave the country whenever they want. But mobilization is not the only hurdle in their path; shortage of air tickets and an overcrowded number of individuals at the border is also a major problem blocking their way to their homeland.