Nikola Kazakov

A Bulgarian official has warned that migrant accommodation centers are working at 7% beyond their capacities, not having enough room for residents.

Of 5130 beds for asylum seers in accommodation and reception centers across the country, around twenty percent are used as of March 22, the new refugee agency head has announced.

Petya Parvanova told private bTV broadcaster on Monday the capacity could be increased to 6000 in cases of emergency.

A former interim Interior Minister is taking over the State Agency for Refugees, the Bulgarian government has said.

At a cabinet meeting, Petya Parvanova, who oversaw internal affairs under the 2013 caretaker administration of Marin Raykov, has been appointed to the office.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has sacked Aleksandar Dimitrov as deputy chairman of the State Agency for Refugees (SAR), news website Dnevnik.bg quotes government sources as saying.

Earlier this week, Nikola Kazakov was dismissed as head of the SAR, along with the agency's Chief Secretary, Zlatko Aleksandrov.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has said he has referred the case of reported misuse of funding by the State Agency for Refugees (SAR) to the prosecution.

Instances of misuse, like the procurement of food for refugees accomodated in SAR's center at inflated prices, without calling public tenders, were reportd by private national NOVA TV station.

Nikola Kazakov, Chairman of the State Agency for Refugees, has been dismissed, the Bulgarian government announced on Monday.

Kircho Kirov, one of Kazakov's deputies, will serve as interim chairman until the government appoints a new incumbent, the government press office said in a statement.

At present, less than 1500 refugees are accommodated in Bulgaria and the country has capacity to accept another 3600 asylum-seekers.

This was announced by Nikola Kazakov, chairperson of the State Agency for Refugees (DAB) in an interview for Focus radio on Thursday.

Since the beginning of the year, more than 11 000 requests for temporary stay in Bulgaria have been submitted, which represents nearly a double increase compared to 2014.

This was announced by the chairperson of the State Agency for Refugees (DAB), Nikola Kazakov, in an interview for private bTV station on Tuesday.

Bulgaria's State Agency for Refugees (SAR) has informed about a sudden spike in migratory pressure on the country in 2015.

Speaking at a conference organized by MEP Svetoslav Malinov, SAR Chair Nikola Kazakov said that a total of 11 742 people had applied for protection in Bulgaria by September 23, 2015, compared to a total of 1025 in 2010.

The State Agency for Refugees assured that it has readiness to deal with the increasing migratory pressure towards Bulgaria.

This was announced by its chairperson Nikola Kazakov, who said on Tuesday that if the need arises the agency could increase its capacity for accommodation.