Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Velizar Shalamanov assured that all Bulgarian citizens who need evacuation from conflict-affected areas are receiving the necessary care. On the air of “Wake up“ on Nova TV, he emphasized: “Categorically, no Bulgarian has been abandoned. This evacuation shows that the state really cares for its citizens“.
Shalamanov explained that the priority in the evacuation operation is Bulgarians in areas of military operations. “So far, about 2,600 people have been evacuated from over 11 countries where there is a risk of missiles and drones“, he said, specifying that the process is coordinated by the crisis headquarters in cooperation with tourism, transport and foreign missions.
On the topic of criticism that some flights were used by politicians and celebrities, Shalamanov clarified: “Not all flights are coordinated by the crisis headquarters. Some of them are commercial and people have purchased tickets themselves. The first flights organized by the state follow clear instructions to prioritize humanitarian cases.“
In relation to cyber threats, the deputy minister noted that the website of the Foreign Ministry, which serves to register citizens for evacuation, is overloaded and there have been indications of cyberattacks, but there has been no data leak. “Currently, all measures are being taken to protect the personal data and health of citizens“, he explained.
Shalamanov also commented on the country's security in the context of the conflict in the Middle East: “The risk for Bulgaria from missiles and drones from Iran is practically non-existent. Our entire coverage is provided by NATO's anti-missile shield, and information and psychological attacks remain the main threat.“
Shalamanov pointed out that there are 48 Bulgarian citizens and 14 Iranian citizens, family members, in Iran. Only one Bulgarian woman has wished to be evacuated from there.