Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Lack of cooperation from Afghanistan halts trial against migrant smugglers

Photo: BGNES

The legal trial of the deaths of 18 refugees who died of suffocation in a truck found near the Sofia village of Lokorsko in February 2023 cannot begin. The reason is the lack of a response from the embassy in Afghanistan. It is not clear when the trial will be able to start, BGNES reports.

The court will try to find the relatives of the deceased through the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During the incident on February 17, 2023, another 34 young men from Afghanistan were found near the truck with the 18 dead. Dehydrated, wet and freezing, they were admitted to hospitals.

Six Bulgarian citizens are accused of human trafficking crimes, one of whom has already died and the case against him has been discontinued.


English publication: R. Petkova



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

A warning for dangerous rainfall has been issued for 12 regions in Southern Bulgaria

On Friday, the lowest temperatures will be between 4°C and 9°C, reaching up to 12°C in the southeast, around 6°C in Sofia . During the next 24 hours, the weather will remain cloudy. It will rain in almost the entire country. During the day, rainfall..

published on 11/27/25 6:45 PM

Varna mayor Blagomir Kotsev released pending trial on €102,258 bond

The Varna District Court has released the city’s mayor, Blagomir Kotsev, on a financial bond of €102,258. Before the court’s decision was announced, supporters of the mayor and members of the We Continue the Change party gathered outside the..

published on 11/27/25 5:37 PM

Three detained and five police officers injured at last night's protest in Sofia

Three people, including an Italian citizen, were arrested during last night's protest against the adoption of the 2026 budget in front of the National Assembly, the director of the Sofia Directorate of Internal Affairs, Chief Commissioner Lyubomir..

published on 11/27/25 3:50 PM