Bulgaria is accused of shooting a refugee. This came after a new video surfaced showing how a 19-year-old Syrian man was killed on the country’s border with Turkey, reports Sky News.
This is the first footage showing an asylum seeker being shot at the EU border by live ammunition.
This is a joint investigation by Sky News, Lighthouse Reports, The Times, Le Monde, ARD Studio Wien, Domani and RFE/RL Bulgaria.
Footage shot on Oct. 3 near the Bulgarian-Turkish border shows 19-year-old Abdullah El Rustum falling to the ground after a bullet went through his arm and lodged in his chest.
He claims he was shot by Bulgarian border guards after they caught his group entering the country illegally and pushed them back to Turkey.
“A green car appeared with two Bulgarian employees inside. It approached us and they started shooting in the air. They shot twice in the air and then started shooting directly in front of us on the ground,” the refugee recounts. .
“We weren’t afraid and we kept arguing that this was unacceptable. ‘Why did you do that?’ we asked. After these words they hit and shot me,” he said.
“The way they shot me was direct and aimed to kill me,” he adds.
The Bulgarian government denies the allegations and says it respects international and national laws, adding that aggression against border officials is on the rise.
“The Bulgarian security forces, with the help of Frontex, are on the front line every day to protect all European citizens,” the Interior Ministry said.
But the allegations are worrying: threats, violence and intimidation usually applied at the European border.
