Armenian delegation humiliated in strip search at Bulgarian airport

An Armenian mayor and his accompanying delegation werebsubjected to humiliating treatment at Vasil Levski Sofia Airport, including being forced to strip completely and undergo a prolonged search and questioning, Bulgarian media reported.

The mayor of the Armenian city of Ani, Arman Saribekyan, along with his deputy Ananik Urumyan, the municipal secretary Arutyun Ambaryan, and council member Asmik Zatikyan, were detained by border police upon arrival early on October 1, Caliber.Az reports, citing Bulgarian media.

They were held in an official room for more than two hours, during which they were searched and questioned, according to local reports.

The delegation had been visiting Bulgaria at the invitation of Georgi Georgiev, mayor of Novi Pazar, to sign a cooperation agreement covering culture, education, sports, tourism, and economic collaboration between the two cities.

Deputy mayor of Novi Pazar, Ayan Mehmedov, said that only the Armenian officials were singled out, despite all passengers arriving from Yerevan being on the same flight. He said that border officers repeatedly referred to the guests as migrants intending to travel onwards to Austria, and questioned why the mayor of Ani had decided to visit Bulgaria at this time.

“The guests tried to communicate in Russian, but the officers claimed not to understand the language,” Mehmedov said. “When they were finally released, the mayor of Ani told me that the airport had cameras recording the incident and advised requesting the footage to verify what happened.”

The incident prompted Armenia’s ambassador to Bulgaria, Tovinar Hampartsumyan, to send a formal protest note to Bulgarian Foreign Minister Georgi Georgiev.

Despite the ordeal, the Armenian delegation was able to participate in events celebrating Novi Pazar’s local festival. Reports from Armenia suggest this is not the first time Armenian visitors arriving from Yerevan have been treated as potential migrants.

By Aghakazim Guliyev