“LEGAL APPEAL” in Bulgaria

Many people on the move pass through Bulgaria not by choice, but because they find no other route in their search for safety and a dignified life. Frequently, the journey ends abruptly when they are intercepted by authorities and taken—despite their claim for protection—to detention centers such as Busmantsi and Lyubimets, under vague and arbitrary accusations like posing a “threat to national security.”

Inside these detention centers, people are cut off from the outside world. Contact with family is rare, legal information is limited, and access to social or psychological support is almost nonexistent. People apply for asylum as a last form of protection, yet these applications are largely rejected without a fair or individualized assessment, ignoring personal histories, risks, and vulnerabilities.

Each case follows an exhausting path: an initial asylum application, a first appeal after rejection, and a possible second appeal if the decision is upheld again. Every appeal carries a high legal cost that most detained people cannot afford. While waiting, people remain confined in degrading conditions, with limited access to toilets, insufficient food, and prolonged uncertainty—conditions that deeply affect mental health and leave many feeling invisible and forgotten.

A donation of €150 can cover the cost of an individual appeal through an NNK-partner lawyer in Bulgaria. Each case is carefully assessed and followed by the NNK team, and supporters receive updates about the person they are standing with. This initiative goes beyond financial support—it creates a human connection across borders and offers concrete solidarity to someone trapped in an unjust system.