Bulgarian nationalist protesters block crossing points at Turkish border

Border checkpoints with Turkey blocked by protests against "voting tourism"
Tuesday, 21 March 2017 15:48

Bulgarian nationalist protesters blocked several border crossing points on the country’s border with Turkey in order to prevent Turkish individuals able to vote in Bulgaria from carrying out alleged plans to interfere in the coming parliamentary elections, local media reported on Tuesday.

They reportedly constructed fences made of auto tires and chains. The protesters say that thousands of voters may enter Bulgaria from Turkey and will be able to influence the results of coming elections, according to Sputnik. 

The relations between Sofia and Ankara worsened after reports about Turkey's alleged attempts to influence elections in Bulgaria through campaigning for the Democrats for Unity, Solidarity and Tolerance (DOST) party.

On Thursday, Bulgaria recalled its ambassador, Nadezhda Neynsky, from Turkey for consultations to discuss allegations of meddling in the snap parliamentary voting, scheduled for March 26.

Bulgaria is expected to hold the snap elections in the context of the resignation of former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov in November 2016, following the defeat of his country's candidate in the presidential election.