Fifteen buses bearing Turkish registration plates arrived in Veliko Tarnovo on election day, triggering local tension and police verification over suspected organized voting. The vehicles occupied central buffer parking lots and squares near the Tsarevets fortress, as dozens of passengers stepped out into the historic capital. Social media quickly filled with photographs, video clips, and anxious commentary from citizens suspecting organized voting tourism, as nova.bg reported.
Police Verification Disproves Electoral Tourism Claims
Law enforcement officers conducted comprehensive checks on the foreign buses and their passengers following the swift spread of information online. The investigation conclusively established that the transport involved an organized tourist trip operating along a transit route between Bucharest and Istanbul, according to nova.bg. Police confirmed that none of the travelers held dual citizenship, Bulgarian passports, or voting declarations, meaning zero passengers possessed the right to cast a ballot in the Bulgarian elections. Dnes.bg noted that the arrival coincided with the presidential runoff vote, intensifying local scrutiny.
Conflicting Reports on Voter Intentions
Local media coverage captured differing accounts regarding the passengers’ statements upon arrival. A reporting team from focus-news.net observed four buses parked near the circus grounds while others circled the center and the Tsarevets fortress, with passengers explaining they were traveling from Romania to Turkey. One passenger told focus-news.net that they possessed Bulgarian citizenship and intended to vote in the old capital. Meanwhile, paragraf.bg reported that BNT sources counted seven buses with Turkish registration plates moving through the city, noting that officers checked driver documents while some passengers reiterated plans to vote. A check by focus-news.net at nearby polling stations inside Emilian Stanev Secondary School found voters present, but confirmed they were local residents rather than arriving tourists.
Escort and Transit Out of Veliko Tarnovo
Police established a preventive escort to guide the buses out of the central district and away from the Tsarevets fortress area to specialized parking lots outside the city limits. This measure aimed to guarantee public order and calm the tension among local residents, nova.bg reported. The tourists received a four-hour window to explore the sights of Veliko Tarnovo before the group resumed its planned itinerary toward Istanbul.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where were the buses traveling from and going to?
The buses operated on an organized tourist route running between Bucharest, Romania, and Istanbul, Turkey, according to police checks reported by nova.bg.
How many buses actually entered Veliko Tarnovo?
Nova.bg and Dnes.bg reported the arrival of 15 buses, while BNT and focus-news.net observed a total of seven buses stationed across the city center and circus grounds.
Were any passengers allowed to vote in the local elections?
No. Police verified that none of the travelers held Bulgarian identification or voting documents, ruling out any participation in the domestic vote.
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