This investigation documents the implementation of a regime of violent pushbacks and abuse of voluntary return programmes by Western European countries and international agencies.
One of the most important elements of the investigation is the plight of families searching for loved ones who went missing in Bulgaria while trying to reach Europe. By gathering precious testimonies from families in Europe, Syria and beyond, and collaborating with Bulgarian and international NGOs, we have traced the arduous search for answers. This has uncovered a pattern of institutional neglect by Bulgarian institutions, cases of corruption in the 'business' of searching for answers and a lack of transparent procedures for identifying the deceased.
Recent reports complement these findings by showing how many Syrian refugees in Bulgaria are effectively forced to leave the country due to restrictive legal frameworks and administrative obstacles. Rather than offering long-term protection, the authorities have increasingly blocked family reunification procedures, refused to renew residence permits and sharply reduced the granting of asylum. Since late 2024, the State Agency for Refugees has shifted from automatically granting protection to Syrians to conducting individual assessments, resulting in mass rejections. This combination of measures has left many Syrian families in limbo, unable to legally reunite. Meanwhile, those who entered the country seeking protection are facing systematic exclusion and pressure to leave, despite the ongoing instability in their home country.
On the right: Border area in southeastern Bulgaria, now part of the Schengen zone, a frontline of the EU’s migration control marked by pushbacks, rights violations and families searching for missing relatives. Photograph by Cecilia Fasciani.
