An investigation by the British television "Sky News" and several other Western media claims that Bulgarian border policemen shot and wounded a Syrian citizen who tried to cross the territory of our country from Turkey.

The footage was taken on October 3 and was provided to a Dutch human rights organization by a Turkish lawyer.

19-year-old Syrian Abdullah al-Rustum Mohammed told Western media that he was wounded near the heart and suffered permanent disabilities.

All about the topic:

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A statement sent by the Home Office

 to Sky News said our border police were on duty on the evening in question but did not fire shots.

Syrian: Bulgarian border guards shot me at the border with Turkey

According to the Ministry of the Interior, the video does not make it clear from which direction the shot was fired.

In connection with this incident, an investigation was carried out to establish the factual truth, from which it is clear that no shots were fired from the Bulgarian side, the ministry notes.

The entire position of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which was sent to "Sky News", was made available specifically for "Around the World and at home", as well as photographs that are related to the case.

In this case, we are talking about the attempt of 65 persons to cross the border illegally.

The Ministry of the Interior adds that there was aggressive behavior on the part of the migrants, who threw stones at their car.

A police officer from the "Sredets" border management was injured, material damage was also caused.

Here is the entire position of the Ministry of the Interior:

The legal regime of the state borders of the Republic of Bulgaria is governed by three types of normative acts - European, international and internal.

The General Directorate of the Border Police (GDP) strictly complies with all of them. The GDP actively cooperates with the High Commissioner for Refugees at the United Nations and the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee on the basis of the signed tripartite Memorandum of Cooperation. Since the inauguration of the office, there have been no signals of serious incidents related to the Bulgarian border by the Turkish state and Frontex.

During the period 01.01-27.11.2022, 153,460 attempts to cross the Bulgarian-Turkish border were registered, which is more than a 4-fold increase compared to the same period in 2021 (36,418).

In the last two months, a decrease in migrant pressure has been noticed.

Security of the Bulgarian border is carried out jointly by forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Defense and Frontex.

According to the 1967 Agreement between the People's Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Turkey on the Prevention and Resolution of Border Incidents and the Maintenance of State Border Signs, shooting at neighboring territory constitutes a border incident and all Bulgarian officials are instructed not to use weapons on adjacent Turkish territory.

It should be borne in mind that recently there has been a significant increase in the aggression shown by citizens of third countries against employees of the State Police.

They threw stones and flammable objects through the fence at the border police officers, as a result of which there were injured colleagues, as well as damaged property of the State Police - official cars and permanent posts for guarding the state border.

In recent months, two employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs lost their lives when they tried to stop a bus with illegal migrants in Burgas, one was seriously injured in a similar situation in Sofia.

During the performance of his official duties, a border policeman was shot, and the circumstances surrounding the incident are still being clarified.

Again, it is a case of aggression on 03.10.2022, when in the area of ​​92 border pyramid, a border police unit from GPU Sredets prevented an attempt to violate the state border by a group of about 65 persons.

Upon spotting the border patrol, the group retreats deep into Turkish territory.

Not long after, they returned, exhibiting aggressive and hostile behavior, which escalated into physical violence - throwing stones and burning objects at the Bulgarian policemen, the official car and the security booth.

A border policeman of the Sredets GPU was injured by the thrown stones.

Considerable material damage was caused to a Bulgarian official car "Land Rover Discovery", as well as broken windows of the security booth.

The Turkish border authorities were immediately notified, and they sent their squad to the scene.

On 02.11.2022, an extraordinary meeting of the Mixed Bulgarian-Turkish Border Commission for Sector "A" was held on Turkish territory, at which information was exchanged about the incident on 03.10.2022. In connection with the case, a video was shown from the Turkish side, filmed by the migrants with a phone, in which a shot can be heard, from which a Syrian citizen was injured on Turkish territory.

From the video, it is not clear from which direction the shot was fired.

In connection with this incident, an investigation was carried out to establish the factual truth, from which it is clear that no shots were fired from our side.

This aggression is not an isolated case.

Bulgaria guards the border of the entire European Union, because a large part of those trying to enter our territory try to reach countries from Western and Central Europe.

The Bulgarian security forces, with the help of Frotex, are on the front line every day to protect all European citizens.

The latest inspections by the European Commission in our country show that our country strictly complies with the Schengen legislation.

This is indicated in two successive reports, the position of the Ministry of Internal Affairs also states.

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