site.btaBulgarian Writer Ekaterina Gluhova from Israel: "We Are Worried, Scared but Holding on So as Not to Panic"

Bulgarian writer Ekaterina Gluhova told BTA from Israel on Saturday that they are worried and scared but trying to hold on so as not to panic when there are air raid alerts and missiles and not to obstruct the evacuation itself. Gluhova is on the 13-member Bulgarian delegation of writers and artists to the Bulgarian Soul of the Holy Land International Festival in Tel Aviv. BTA's Elena Pavlova contacted her via the Messenger app. 

The festival was supposed to continue until June 16, but due to the military situation the programme has been cut short.

Gluhova has been accommodated at a hotel in Bat Yam, some 25 km from Tel Aviv. Also on the Bulgarian delegation are Bulgarian Writers' Union Chair Boyan Angelov, Confederation of Bulgarian Cultural Organizations and Activists Abroad President Snezhana Galcheva, part of the team of the Bulgarian feature film Don’t Close Your Eyes, including screenwriter Martin Ralchevski and director and producer Nikolay Egermann, Raina Mandzhukova, Executive Director of the State Agency for Bulgarians Abroad, and Bulgarian National Radio journalist Dimitrina Kyurkchieva.

"It was scary last night [Friday], the sirens were going off all the time. We are hiding in a basement. It's good that the hotel itself has a shelter. You could feel the vibrations from the bombs, you could hear the rumbling," said Gluhova. Several times they had to go down into the basement. Since the morning they have had only one air raid alert, but the danger has been lifted and Saturday has been calm. They have been allowed to go to nearby shops, and to sit on a bench near the hotel.

"Hopefully we can get back to Bulgaria at the earliest opportunity, it is best by air as it is the shortest route. We are really counting on the Bulgarian government to get us out," Gluhova told BTA.

The Bulgarian delegation had a meeting with Bulgarian Ambassador to the State of Israel Slavena Gergova. She is constantly in touch with her compatriots. "She is our real link with Bulgaria and we receive information on how far the decision of the authorities to evacuate us has gone. She answers all our questions," Gluhova said.

Israeli airspace is closed until 8 p.m. The airline postponed Gluhova's flight twice, and the third time they told her they would refund her ticket money.

"We appeal for peace all over the world, we are people of art and we will fight for no wars," the writer underscored.

Earlier on Saturday, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said that  there are three ways in which Bulgarians from the Middle East can return home: by air, land and water. He explained that authorities are currently exploring all possible options, and that the way they ensure the safe return of all those who wish will be in accordance with the situation.