The European Commission on Tuesday urged authorities in Bulgaria to urgently investigate allegations that firearms were used to repel the entry of migrants across its border with Turkey, while warning that the use of violence is «unacceptable.»
«We expect the national authorities to investigate all allegations and for the complaints to be followed up quickly and effectively,» EU interior spokeswoman Anitta Hipper told a press conference in Brussels, when asked about images in various media showing a person being hit by gunfire apparently fired from the Bulgarian side of the border.
Hipper pointed out that the Community Executive «takes note of all the accusations» of irregularities and considers «unacceptable» any use of violence resulting in the loss of human lives.
For this reason, he added, the Community services call for a rapid investigation of the facts, while specifying that it is not a matter for the European border control agency (Frontex) to examine, but for the authorities of the Member State.
This Monday, several European media such as Sky News or ARD published a video recording in which it can be seen how a migrant is hit by a bullet apparently fired from the Bulgarian side of the border with Turkey.
According to the same information, residents of the area also denounced hot returns of migrants who managed to cross the border, which would be a violation of international law because they are not allowed to exercise their right to seek asylum.
A group of these deportees confronted the officers after being released on the Turkish side, throwing stones and insulting the policemen. The Bulgarian Police itself has denounced «aggressive and hostile behavior» of the migrants.
