Breaking Boundaries: Bulgaria’s ‘Virtual Traffic’ at the Romania Border and the Firms behind it
Since Bulgaria and Romania joined the Schengen Area on January 1, the promise of open borders has yet to trickle down to truck drivers. Instead of seamless travel, they’re being funneled into a paid ‘viritual queue’ at border crossings, a practice that’s been ongoing for years and involves the same network of companies.
The Insidious ‘Virtual Queue’
Nova TV‘s recent investigation exposed how truckers at the Ruse border with Romania are being directed to a private parking lot to receive a ‘virtual queue’ number, a system meant to manage border traffic and minimize bottlenecks. This parking lot, run by a private firm, handles the queue, with its employees flagging down trucks and distributing numbers.
The revelations come as no surprise to long-time observers. Similar practices have been reported at other Bulgarian borders, with truckers being directed to paid parking lots, often under duress. While these parking lots may seem innocuous, they’re part of a larger ecosystem of companies profiting from Bulgaria’s borders—one that has only seemed to grow with the country’s entry into Schengen.
"Virtually" Speaking: Bulgaria’s New Frontier
Bulgaria’s entry into Schengen has indeed reduced border checks, but the practice of herding truckers into paid parking lots persists. At the ‘Dunav Most’ border checkpoint in Ruse, two out of four lanes are now open for free traffic, with others reserved for random checks. However, these checks are infrequent, affecting only 5-10% of traffic.
After Nova TV‘s exposé, the car stopping truckers was removed from the scene, but the virtual queue remains. Ruse’s mayor and regional governor announced that the queue will be reactivated when truck traffic increases, which is expected during the upcoming моst repairs.
Following the Money Trail
The parking lot at Ruse is owned by ‘Тир Паркинг Русе,’ a company 40% owned by Anevra Lazarova, who also serves as its director. The remaining 60% is owned by two companies represented by Emil Hrusev, a former deputy governor of the Bulgarian National Bank. Despite requests, ‘Тир Паркинг Русе’ did not provide comment.
Hrusev’s involvement doesn’t stop at Ruse. Through another firm, he holds a stake in ‘Ай Би Ти Ти,’ which owns parking lots at the Kapitan Andreevo and Lesovo border checkpoints.
Another significant player is Razmig Chakarayan, or ‘Ami,’ who co-owns ‘Ай Би Ти Ти’ with Hrusev. Chakarayan was linked to a scandal involving the state-appointed lab ‘Evrolab 2011,’ which handled EU-bound food product inspections without a tender. The lab was later connected to a Greek national wanted for organized crime.
The Ruse parking lot’s operator, ‘Тир Паркинг Русе,’ paid a symbolic amount for the land it uses, which belongs to Ruse Municipality. Meanwhile, truckers pay 15 BGN for a Bulgarian license plate or 25 EUR for a foreign one. Despite being voluntary, some truckers have reported feeling pressured to pay.
Similar parking lots operate at Bulgaria’s borders with Turkey, with all pointing back to the same network of companies. A 2023 investigation by the Anti-Corruption Fund (ACF) uncovered this web of companies illegally profiting from Bulgaria’s borders.
A Hidden Network
This network of companies, profiting from Bulgaria’s borders, has been operating for years. From theRsue parking lot to ‘Evrolab 2011’ and the Kapitan Andreevo and Lesovo border checkpoints, a handful of companies and individuals have been quietly raking in profits.
The government has admitted to the problem, with the Minister of Interior acknowledging the ‘virtual queue’ issue. Yet, no concrete actions have been taken to dismantle the network. Instead, they’ve merely promised to devise a comprehensive border management strategy.
As Bulgaria’s borders become more open, it’s crucial to ensure they’re not merely becoming more profitable for a select few. The country’s entry into the Schengen Area should be transforming borders into gateways, not cash cows.
