Nearly 1,000 Ukrainians get Bulgarian passport in 2012

Of 18,081 people who received Bulgarian citizenship last year there were 975 former nationals of Ukraine, Bulgaria's Vice President Margarita Popova, who is in charge of obtaining citizenship, told reporters on January 23, a Sofia-based UKRINFORM correspondent reported.

«Bulgarian citizenship in 2012 went to 18,081 people. Most Bulgarian passports were issued to the Bulgarians living in Macedonia - 8,185. They were followed by ethnic Bulgarians who lived in Ukraine - 975,» she said.

The official also said that the passport of the Republic of Bulgaria in 2012 was granted to many ethnic Bulgarians living in such countries as Moldova, Russia, Serbia and Israel.

Mrs. Popova noted that obtaining Bulgarian citizenship is not associated only with financial measurements and investment in the Bulgarian economy. As she said, «first of all - it is a sign of belonging to the homeland.» Based on the Bulgarian birth, 13,737 people received the country's citizenship, 4,130 people got Bulgarian passport on the grounds that one of the parents is a citizen of this country or was adopted by Bulgarian family.

She also stressed that every citizen who got a passport of Bulgaria must understand that in the country there are laws that must be followed.

She also informed that in 2012, the Bulgarian citizenship was restored to 604 persons, 136 were released from or deprived of Bulgarian citizenship.

Adapted from Ukrinform