Tensions rise as Bulgarian nationalists block Turkish border to bar ‘electoral tourism’

[TomSea]

Tensions rise as Bulgarian nationalists block Turkish border to bar ‘electoral tourism’
By  TM - March 24, 2017

A woman pulls her suitcase as she crosses the Bulgaria-Turkey border on foot during a rally of Bulgarian nationalists aimed at preventing ethnic Turks with Bulgarian passports from crossing to vote in the country's general elections on March 24, 2017 at the Kapitan Andreevo checkpoint on the Bulgarian-Turkish border. Turkish President hit back on March 23, 2017 at what he called "pressure" on the 700,000 Turks in Bulgaria, as tensions mounted between Ankara and Sofia ahead of elections in the EU state. Bulgaria has voiced anger at Turkey's open support for a party for the ethnic Turkish minority, which is running in the general elections for the first time on March 26. / AFP PHOTO / Dimitar DILKOFF
Bulgarian nationalists blocked border checkpoints with Turkey on Friday to stop buses carrying ethnic Turks who are Bulgarian citizens to vote in Sunday’s election amid growing tension between the two neighbors.

According to Reuters, about a hundred supporters of the nationalist coalition United Patriots blocked the main checkpoint at Kapitan Andreevo-Kapıkule and vowed to stay until the end of the vote. Bulgarian nationalists also chanted slogans “Hands off Bulgaria” and “No to electoral tourism.”

On Thursday, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev slammed remarks made by his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who criticized the Bulgarian government for “putting pressure” on expatriate Turks, saying his country would not accept democracy lessons from Turkey.

Continued: http://www.turkishminute.com/2017/03/24/tensions-rise-bulgarian-nationalists-block-turkish-border-bar-electoral-tourism/