Hundreds of stateless people live in Bulgaria, deprived of basic human rights and in a sutuation of a legal limbo.

Although Bulgaria has a statelessness determination procedure, it is far from being perfect. During this procedure, applicants do not receive any documents and do not have the right to stay in the country while their application is reviewed, thus, facing the risk of prolonged and unlawful immigration detention. The burden of proof lies entirely on those applying for statelessness status, making it difficult to gather evidence.

Over the years, the Foundation for Access to Rights - FAR has provided legal aid to a number of stateless people. At FAR we realize how important it is to work towards popularizing this topic. That's why we created two videos telling the stories of two stateless persons from the former USSR and Yugoslavia living in Bulgaria for decades.

Meet Lydia who is from the former Soviet Union. Hear about the challenges she has faced during her 28 years in Bulgaria. She spent a year and a half in an immigration detention centre with no prospect of ever being returned.

Meet Rade who is from the former Yugoslavia. He came to Bulgaria as a refugee during the war in 1995. In 2001 he ended up with no valid documents and no state to recognize him of any nationality. His refugee status was terminated. Thereafter he remained in a legal limbo. On paper Rade does not exist, he is invisible. Hear his story in the video below.

Both videos are created with the support of the European Network on Statelessness.

Together with ENS FAR is updating the section on Bulgaria in the Statelessness Index, where you will easily find information about the national legal framework, policy and practice on the protection of stateless people and easily compare it with the situation in other European countries included in the Index.

Read also the information brochure below about the statelessness determination procedure in Bulgaria, created jointly with UNHCR Bulgaria.