Our compatriots, ethnic Bulgarians - Bessarabian, Tavrian and Crimean, are captives of the Russians. They need our support. These are people who are honestly and bravely fighting for their homeland. People who are fighting like our heroes of the Liberation.
This is stated in the text of the petition, which was sent to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Ombudsman, the Speaker of the National Assembly and to the members of the 51st National Assembly, BGNES reported.
"Each of us can help the victims of the war in many ways. Many Bulgarians are doing it. However, we can only help those who have been captured together, through our state. All exchanges of prisoners of war between Ukraine and Russia take place with the help of an intermediary state. Usually this role is played by Qatar or the United Arab Emirates. Bulgaria is an interested party, because ethnic Bulgarians are also captured! Bulgaria must at least make an attempt to save its sons. They are dying slowly and painfully in the camps and prisons of Russia from hunger, torture and humiliation," the open letter says.
"Bulgaria must cooperate to the best of its ability to exchange all prisoners. Because atrocities have no nationality. Because abuse and inhuman treatment are unacceptable at any time, in any country. Bulgaria, which saved its Jews during World War II, can now save the Bulgarians and Ukrainians who have been captured! Let us call on the state of Bulgaria to take responsibility with this petition! "Let the institutions in our country fulfill their role!", the petition says at the end.