Bulgaria sent troops to the border with Greece

Bulgaria will send more than 400 military and law enforcement to protect its border with Greece from migrants. This was stated by Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, the country, reports DW 5 March.

"Hundreds of people, more than 400, from the army, the military police and the police will be here all the time", - he said after the exercise in the border region.

Another 500 people can be mobilized if necessary, within a few hours, said Borisov.

In February, the Bulgarian Parliament has given the army extensive powers for border protection. Earlier, the military can provide the Border Police only technical and logistical support. Now the 260-kilometer border between Bulgaria and Turkey is guarded by about 2,000 police officers. The country is built on the border of the 30-kilometer fence, which is now being extended.

Bulgaria is not a part of the "Balkan route", which refugees are sent from Turkey to Western Europe. However, after the introduction of quotas for Austria reception of asylum seekers, the latter can start to look for new ways. Bulgarian-Greek border runs 470 kilometers in the mountains, so only one-third of its length is available for untrained persons.

Last year, Bulgaria registered 30 thousand migrants. About 500 asylum seekers are now in the Bulgarian refugee reception centers.

Earlier, it was reported that Austria and 9 Balkan countries can fully close the borders to migrants.

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