Who is bulgarian and how is bulgarian origin proven?

Abstract

The Bulgarian State allows naturalization under a streamlined procedure to foreign citizens of Bulgarian origin in accordance with the provision of Art. 15, para. 1, item 1 of the Bulgarian Citizenship Law (BCL). In order for these persons to exercise the right of being granted Bulgarian citizenship, it is sufficient for them to prove that they have an ascendant relative within the third degree who is of Bulgarian origin. The article deals with the court practice contradictions as regards whether the term ‘Bulgarian origin’ has an ethnical meaning or relates to holding the title of Bulgarian citizenship. The article also considers the matter of proving Bulgarian origin and the procedure through which the naturalization process bodies (especially the Ministry of Justice) can be bound by a judicial finding according to which a person is of Bulgarian origin.