The Armenian Migration in Bulgaria History, Specifics, Issues
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Funded by the European Union Return Fund The Armenian migration in Bulgaria History, Specifics, Issues Reintegration Center Armenia Yerevan, 04-05.09.2013 Elina Raynova Association FOR YOU, Varna, Bulgaria Armenian minority in Bulgaria •on the Balkans since the 5th century AD •During the Ottoman conquest (1363 - 1693), successive waves of settlers, Armenians from Armenia, Crimea, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and Asia Minor, reached the territory of modern Bulgaria. •20 000 Armenians, escaping the Turkish violence, settled in Bulgaria in 1894 - in 1896 •during the Balkan War (1912 - 1913), the number of Armenians in Bulgaria reached 35 000 •in 1922, 22 000 Armenians found refuge in Bulgaria and their number increased to 47 000 people. Armenian minority in Bulgaria •In 1935 and 1946 groups of Armenians are deported from Bulgaria in Armenia, when the republic join the USSR. •According to data from 1994 in Bulgaria live around 13 000 Armenians. •According to the last census of 2011 the Armenian minority in Bulgaria are 6 552 people , which place them on a 4th place after the Turkish, the Roma and the Russian minorities. Armenian minority in Bulgaria Mostly in the big cities – Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Bourgas bus also smaller ones like Shumen, Haskovo, Pazardjik , Ruse, Yambol, Sliven The biggest community is in Plovdiv Very well integrated- in the social and cultural live but do not participate in politics 11 Armenian churches in Bulgaria 1 Armenian school in Plovdiv (175 years old) Armenian language classes in the churches in the big cities – Varna, Sofia, Bourgas Armenian minority in Bulgaria Armenian church in Varna Armenian minority in Bulgaria Armenian church in Plovdiv Armenian minority in Bulgaria Armenian school in Plovdiv Armenian minority in Bulgaria Armenian school in Plovdiv Armenian minority in Bulgaria Armenian school in Plovdiv Armenian minority in Bulgaria 3 newspapers Armenian General Benevolent Union with 10 branches all over Bulgaria The Armenian Scouts 5 more Armenian cultural and civic organizations with branches all over Bulgaria Newcomers - after the 1990 the fall of the communistic regime and the calmer political situation in Bulgaria the high amount of Armenians in Bulgaria to escape the war recently to obtain Bulgarian citizenship and thus EU citizenship to go in Western Europe later Newcomers - after the 1990 According to the census of 2011 about 1168 Armenian citizens live in Bulgaria Mostly in Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Bourgas Between the top 10 countries of asylum seekers Between 01.01.1993-30.06.2013 there are 1894 people who applied for protection Illegally residing Armenians between 1991-2006 are 310 people Newcomers - after the 1990 Top 10 countries of asylum seekers 01.01.1993-30.06.2013 Turkey (394) Nigeria (531) Algeria (752) Serbia and Montenegro … Iran (999) Stateless (1251) Syria (1547) Armenia (1894) Iraq (5383) Afganistan ( 5857) 0 2000 4000 6000 Newcomers - after the 1990 Different from the local Armenian minority –do not like each other so much Speak different type of Armenian (eastern/western) Priests in the churches are local Armenians (only in Varna and in Sofia there are priests from Armenia) Embassy in Sofia and consulate in Plovdiv, the consulate in Varna was recently closed Barriers for legal residence Military service in Armenia No reason to grant refugee or humanitarian status No legal job or not job at all Not enough money to cover the legal requirements for long term residence ship Bibliography http://armenians.orionbg.net/bg/ www.arminbg.org Bulgarian National Agency for refugees Bulgarian National Statistical Institute The immigration in Bulgaria, International Centre for Minority Studies and Intercultural Relations, Anna Krasteva, Sofia, 2005 Country Profile, IOM, 2007 .