The Bulgarian-Greek border at Rudozem continues to remain closed to cars, although Bulgaria is a full member of the European Union and the Schengen Area. Yesterday, on April 18, hundreds of residents of the Rudozem municipality and Smolyan region gathered for a protest organized by Todor Batkov.
Kostadin Kostadinov, who also attended the protest, shared photos from the site on social networks showing concrete barriers and metal grilles on the Greek side, placed in order to stop the passage of vehicles.
"In their desperation to stop the Bulgarians, the Greeks have put up concrete barriers and doubled them with a metal grille. Well, they didn't stop us. We jumped over them and entered Greece," wrote Kostadinov.
According to the information, the Greek police officers who arrived at the scene did not even check the documents of the Bulgarians, since under Schengen rules citizens have the right to cross the border on foot. The question that Kostadinov poses is why another Schengen rule is being violated - the free crossing of the border by cars on the roads.
The problem with the Bulgarian-Greek border at Rudozem is not new. The White Sea Pass has remained closed for 81 years, although Greece made a commitment to open it back in 1996. In return, Bulgaria provided our southern neighbor with the waters of the Mesta River, but the Greek side's obligation has remained unfulfilled for 29 years.
"Next week, I will once again ask the government to put pressure on Greece to open the road it illegally closed," Kostadinov said.
The residents of Smolyan region insist on their rights as European citizens and hope that this time their protest will be heard by both Bulgarian and European institutions.