The United Kingdom entered a critical legal battle, challenging the mechanisms for deporting refugees to Bulgaria, judicial sources reported on July 27, 2025. Legal teams are presenting compelling evidence of systemic human rights violations that directly contradict European legal standards.
Human rights organizations No Name Kitchen and European Council on Refugees and Exiles documented numerous incidents related to unacceptable conditions in Bulgarian refugee centers. Over 200 returned migrants have been pressured to sign documents for voluntary departure, faced with threats and limitations of basic human rights.
The refugee center in Harmanli is particularly problematic, where multiple cases of physical violence and systematic deprivation of basic living conditions have been recorded. The lack of hot water, unsatisfactory hygiene, and psychological harassment call into question Bulgaria's commitments to international human rights conventions.
The key legal dispute focuses on violating Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which prohibits inhuman and degrading treatment. British courts are insisting on a comprehensive review of deportation practices towards Bulgaria.
The Bulgarian Ministry of Interior has not yet presented an official statement on the raised accusations, which further escalates international tension around the country's migration policy.