According to a professor with the Institute of Soviet and East
European Studies at Carleton University, Bulgaria formerly had laws
which restricted contacts of Bulgarians with foreigners (Interview
20 March 1991). These included requirements to obtain permits in
order to house a foreigner within a Bulgarian's home or to hold a
meeting with foreigners. Marriages to foreigners were also strongly
discouraged. This latter statement is corroborated by a 1986
Helsinki Watch report (Helsinki Watch 1986, 21). The professor
believes these laws have now been abolished, although he was
uncertain of the current practice of authorities with respect to
relations between Bulgarians and foreigners (Interview 20 March
1991).
A lawyer with the International Human Rights Law Group in
Washington indicated that interaction between Bulgarians and
foreigners is not currently an issue in Bulgaria, and that
generally, people do not feel reluctant to deal with foreigners
(Interview 19 March 1991). The source noted that in small villages
this could be different as there may be more suspicion of
foreigners among the local populace.
The "1990 Human Rights Report" from the U.S. Department of State
does not indicate any restrictions on interaction between
foreigners and Bulgarians, and further states that a number of
representatives from international human rights organizations
visited Bulgaria in 1990 and were "free to contact local human
rights organizations and to explore human rights developments"
(U.S. Department of State 1991). This is in contrast to the
Department of State's
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
for 1987 which states that (in 1987) "government discourages
private contacts with persons and organizations in the West" (U.S.
Department of State 1987, 995). The 1990 report also states that a
number of emigres returned to the country and some ran as
candidates in the June elections (U.S. Department of State
1991).
There is no further information currently available to the IRB
Documentation Centre regarding Bulgarian laws which regulate
contact between Bulgarians and foreigners.
Bibliography
Helsinki Watch Committee. November 1986.
Violations of the
Helsinki Accords. New York: U.S Helsinki Watch Committee.
Lawyer, International Human Rights Law Group, Washington. 19 March
1991. Telephone interview, Ottawa.
Professor of Soviet and East European Studies, Institute for Soviet
and East European Studies, Carleton University. 20 March 1991.
Telephone interview, Ottawa.
U. S. Department of State. 1 February 1991. "1990 Human Rights
Report," U.S. Department of State Dispatch. (NEXIS)
U. S. Department of State. 1988.
Country Reports for Human
Rights Practices in 1987. Washington: U.S. Government Printing
Office.