site.btaBulgaria Becomes One of First States to Gain Consular Access to Its Citizens in Sumud Flotilla Case

The Bulgarian Consul in Israel has visited Vassil Dimitrov, a Bulgarian national from the Global Sumud Flotilla who is among the activists detained by Israel, the Foreign Ministry in Sofia reported on Friday. The meeting was arranged after timely, vigorous actions taken by the Bulgarian Embassy in Tel Aviv.

Bulgaria thus became one of the first countries to be granted consular access to their citizens in the Sumud Flotilla case, the press release said.

Dimitrov is in good physical and mental condition and wants to be extradited from Israel. The Foreign Ministry, staying in contact with the Israeli authorities, is working for the speediest possible return of Dimitrov to Bulgaria, the press release said.

The Global Sumud Flotilla was bringing relief supplies to the Gaza Strip. Reuters reported on Wednesday that Israeli military had intercepted several vessels from the flotilla. Later, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said from Copenhagen that Sofia had contacted the Israeli authorities to draw their attention to the presence of a Bulgarian national within the activist group. “We urged them to observe the norms of international law,” Zhelyazkov said.