Bulgarian authorities report consistent trend of increased migratory pressure

The Bulgarian ministry of the interior has reported a consistent trend of increased migratory pressure at its borders and a sharp increase in the number of foreigners illegally staying in the country.

The report covered the ministry's activities in the first half of 2015 and was published on its website. According to the report, Bulgarian authorities have detained 4,477 citizens of non-European Union countries who have tried to enter the country, an amount 2.5 times the same period of 2014.

About 94 percent of the foreigners were detained at the border with Turkey, the report said.

As much as 53 percent of those detained were citizens of Syria, 24 percent were Afghans, and 17 percent Iraqis, the report added.

Meanwhile, 3,624 citizens of non-European Union countries were detained when they were trying to leave Bulgaria, an increase of 3.8 times the first half of 2014, with about 84 percent of the cases reported at the border with Serbia, the ministry said.

The report also said that in the first six months of 2015, the ministry conducted 123 specialized operations and found 3,319 foreigners illegally residing in the country, which is 6.5 times the amount for the same period the previous year.

The increased migration pressure led to a deterioration of the criminal situation in the Balkan country, the report said.