Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

1 in 2 persons who have obtained Bulgarian citizenship by merit is an athlete, 1 in 10 – a football player

Photo: archive

1 in 2 persons who have obtained Bulgarian citizenship based on special merits and contributions to Bulgaria is an athlete, Justice Minister Atanas Slavov said, in answer to a question by MP Kristina Petkova. She also asked Minister of Sports Dimitar Iliev where each of the athletes with a Bulgarian citizenship by merit has played and where they are playing now, but has not received an answer so far. The answer given by the minister of justice makes it clear that 392 files for acquiring citizenship by merit were opened in the period from the beginning of 2008 until the end of August 2023. The ministry’s citizenship council has approved 52 proposals. The applications for citizenship of 8 athletes were approved in 2022. In 2021, out of 15 foreigners who acquired citizenship by merit, 9 were athletes. 



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Delyan Peevski

''DPS – New Beginning'' urges that local taxes remain unchanged in 2026

“I call on all representatives of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms in local government — mayors and municipal councilors — to ensure security and predictability for the people and to take the necessary steps to keep all local taxes and fees..

published on 11/25/25 10:02 AM

Bulgaria rises in global digital quality of life ranking

Bulgaria has climbed to 11th place in this year’s Digital Quality of Life 2025 (DQL) index published by Surfshark, up from 18th last year, BTA reported. The index evaluates countries’ digital well-being across five dimensions: fixed broadband..

published on 11/25/25 9:45 AM
Todor Chobanov

Bulgaria expects the return of over 2,700 antiques from abroad

Around 90% of the antiques seized during an international operation targeting a cultural property trafficking network will be returned to Bulgaria, Deputy Minister of Culture Todor Chobanov told “Nova TV”.   “This is an unprecedented operation in..

published on 11/25/25 9:22 AM