Images show how young refugee is shot at the Turkish-Bulgarian border | Abroad

The images were released by various European media, including the British channel ‘Sky News’ and the Dutch investigative journalism agency ‘Lighthouse Reports’. They examined the images of October 3 this year. It shows how El Rustum falls to the ground after a bullet pierces through his hand and ends up in his chest.

According to the young adult, Bulgarian border guards fired shots when he and a group of other people tried to enter Bulgaria illegally. “They first shot into the air twice. Then they fired right in front of us, into the ground. That didn’t scare us and we asked, ‘Why are you doing this to us?’ Then I got hit because they shot at us. The way he shot was direct and he wanted to kill me,” said El Rustum.

Journalists were able to confirm the location of the shooting using videos taken with smartphones. They were also able to recognize a car, the type of which is used by the Bulgarian border guard.

A forensic expert was also called in who was able to determine from the sound of the shot in the video that it was fired by a small arms fire. That firearm was used in the direction of the person filming.

On Thursday 8 December, Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen zone is on the agenda of European leaders. According to the European Commission and Parliament, the country meets the necessary conditions, just like Romania and Croatia.

Within the European Council, the Netherlands is still strongly opposed to allowing Bulgaria into the zone of free movement of goods and persons. First, the committee must have determined that, for example, “you cannot cross the border if there is a border fence with a 50 euro note,” said Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte last Friday. A statement that angered the Bulgarian president. The Commission sees “no” indications for such practices, says competent European Commissioner Ylva Johansson.

Between the beginning of this year and November 27, 153,460 people tried to cross the Bulgarian-Turkish border, according to official figures. That is four times more than the same period last year. The Bulgarian border guard also complains about increased aggression by residents of non-EU countries.

According to the Bulgarian government, there has been damage to border posts from stones thrown by people in the group to which 19-year-old Abdullah El Rustum belonged. They also allegedly burned things and behaved aggressively. There would have been an investigation by the government and it turned out that “no shots were fired from our side”.