site.btaInterior Minister: Ukrainian Refugees' Protection Status in Bulgaria Will Be Extended

The protection that Bulgaria provides to Ukrainian refugees will be extended, said the caretaker Minister of Interior Ivan Demerdzhiev during Friday's Question Time in Parliament. He pointed out that three working groups and a task force had been set up to monitor the latest EU trends and that Bulgaria would comply with the best practices and standards.

"Bulgaria is making efforts to integrate those who permanently stay in Bulgaria - to find them jobs and proper education but also to distinguish refugees from Ukrainian tourists who had flooded the country," Demerdzhiev said.

Kremena Kuneva MP of Democratic Bulgaria said that the expiration of the temporary protection status may cause the Ukrainian refugees to lose many rights, among which the one to take their children to school. According to Kuneva, Ukrainians hired by Bulgarian employers may be unable to keep their jobs, if their status expires.