site.btaTISP Calls for Transparency, Equal Enforcement of Law in Support for Ukrainian Refugees

There Is Such a People (TISP) MP Alexander Rashev read a declaration in Parliament on behalf of the parliamentary group on Friday, calling for full transparency in the use of public resources allocated to support refugees. He expressed concern over what he described as "troubling trends related to the stay of Ukrainian citizens in Bulgaria since the beginning of the war in Ukraine in 2022".

According to Rashev, TISP has brought up these concerns with the executive authorities. Based on information from the Guarantee Fund, the Ministry of Interior, and the Road Infrastructure Agency (RIA), a worrisome picture emerges, raising questions about the effectiveness of control mechanisms and the equal enforcement of the law, regardless of nationality, legal status, or origin.

Citing data from the Guarantee Fund, Rashev noted that in 2022, Ukrainian citizens registered 4,375 civil liability insurance policies in Bulgaria. In 2023, that number dropped to 1,442, and in 2024, to just 825. "This is a deeply concerning trend, as there is no evidence of a mass departure of Ukrainian refugees from Bulgaria, quite the opposite," Rashev said. He questioned whether many vehicles driven by Ukrainian nationals are used without the required insurance coverage.

According to data from the RIA, a total of 12,350 violations related to the absence of valid e-vignettes by vehicles with Ukrainian license plates were recorded between 2022 and 2025, resulting in an estimated budget loss of over BGN 860,000. TISP emphasized that such losses should not be ignored and pointed to a systemic problem that requires a consistent and serious government response.

Based on Interior Ministry figures, Rashev stated that 4,277 Ukrainian citizens currently reside in Bulgaria under temporary protection or other legal grounds. Between 2022 and 2025, 95,494 traffic violations were recorded involving vehicles with Ukrainian registration. However, only 1,064 administrative violation reports were issued. "This is not only improper, it reflects unequal treatment and undermines confidence in the rule of law," Rashev said. He stressed that Bulgarian citizens expect fair and equal enforcement of laws, without double standards.

He also noted that there have been cases where Ukrainian nationals engaged in commercial activities without the necessary licenses, without registering companies, and therefore without paying taxes.

TISP made it clear that they are not opposing Ukrainian citizens who have sought refuge in Bulgaria. However, they insist that the law must be applied equally to everyone, violations must be penalized, the state budget must be protected from dishonest practices, and the authority of institutions must be upheld. “Bulgarian citizens should not be treated as second-class in their own country,” Rashev declared.

“Solidarity does not mean lack of control, assistance does not mean lawlessness,” he added. TISP is calling for strong oversight from the Interior Ministry, the RIA, health inspections, and the Ministry of Education, urging equal treatment under the law.