The press spokesperson of Armenia’s Foreign Ministry and the Ani community administration have commented on the incident at Sofia airport involving the Armenian delegation.
According to reports, the Armenian delegation was subjected to humiliating searches.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ani Badalyan said the incident “cannot be characterized as a ‘diplomatic scandal’” and that the Armenian Embassy in Bulgaria was in contact with the delegation’s head. Upon learning of the incident, the mission “took steps to obtain clarifications from the host country and to avoid such incidents in the future,” Armenpress reports.
“Although media outlets labelled the event a ‘diplomatic scandal,’ it is not so,” the spokesperson said, “nevertheless, protecting the rights of Armenian citizens during foreign visits is always central to our diplomatic service, and appropriate measures are taken depending on the situation.”
Meanwhile, the Ani municipal administration stated that media reports claiming a sensational diplomatic scandal occurred at Sofia’s Vasil Levski airport during October 1–4, involving the Ani delegation, are inaccurate. They said those reports cite Bulgarian sources.
Ani administration added that the Armenian delegation arriving in Bulgaria on October 1, led by Ani community head Arman Saribekyan, considers the airport checkpoint incident a misunderstanding. They said the Armenian Embassy in Bulgaria is aware of the events. The diplomatic mission will show perseverance and give the incident an appropriate assessment.
According to the municipality, after the event, the Ani delegation was welcomed at Sofia airport by the deputy mayor of Novi Pazar and other officials. Later, upon invitation by Novi Pazar mayor Georgi Georgiev, the Ani delegation, led by Saribekyan, received a warm reception in Bulgaria. Their four‑day official visit proceeded in an open and relaxed atmosphere, with a busy and impressive agenda.
Earlier, some media outlets, citing the Bulgarian press, had reported that on October 1, the Armenian delegation arriving in Bulgaria under community head Saribekyan was forced to strip completely, interrogated, and held for several hours in service zones.
