Vigilantism Against Migrants and Minorities (Open Access) by Tore Bjorgo & Miroslav Mareš

Author:Tore Bjorgo & Miroslav Mareš [Bjorgo, Tore & Mareš, Miroslav]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780429939266
Goodreads: 52534820
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2019-10-18T00:00:00+00:00

Organized vigilante groups

Activities

The organization of civilian patrols against irregular migrants are among the main activities of the new formations. These patrols would stop migrants they encounter and alert the authorities, even though there have been cases when the migrants were unlawfully detained. However, all of the new vigilante organizations have engaged in other activities as well, which have become important with the dissipation of the migrant crisis.

In addition to border patrols, BNM Shipka and the MU also claim to regularly organize voluntary military and combat trainings presented as “land navigation and first-aid trainings” (BNM Shipka, n.d.b). The BNM Shipka and the MU furthermore claim to have established an elite antiterrorist squad to be trained abroad by world class professionals in the field of counterterrorism and security (BNM Shipka, 2016). The two organizations have also taken part in different protests (e.g. against the incarceration of CSPWF’s leader Petar Nizamov9). Probably the most important event for the organizations was a protest planned for 20 April 2016 in front of the Parliament, which was supposed to put the so-called operation “Liberation”10 in motion and attract numerous supporters from all over country. In fact, the protest was attended by as little as 50 people in total (Grozev, 2016) and thus failed to deliver the definitive social statement its organizers had hoped for. Members of the organizations claimed that the low turnout was due to the arrest of twenty of the protest coordinators prior to the event (Kojuharov, 2016).

The members of the BNM and MU refrain from violent clashes with other groups or with the police since they risk to undermine their legitimacy by appearing as just another group of hooligans. However, on 30 June 2016 members of BNM Shipka attacked a group of Ukrainian and Bulgarian demonstrators protesting against the arrival of the members of the Russian bikers club Night Wolves, closely affiliated with Vladimir Putin. Despite being a singular case this incident demonstrates that members of the BNM and MU are willing to use violence.

Vigilante activities on the border were also key activities for the two activist formations, the OPBC and CSPWF. Nevertheless, aside from organizing migrant patrols, the OPBC also engages in protests, marches commemorating historical personalities, charity (gathering and donating clothes, blood) and volunteer work (e.g. assisting in putting out forest fires) (OPBC, n.d.). OPBC members have downplayed their activities in border areas, stating that they take walks and day trips and if they happen to come across migrants would alert the Border Police (“Civilian patrols”, 2016). The CSPWF has taken part in protests and charitable activities. While the CSPWF’s leader became infamous for the ‘citizen arrest’ of a group of migrants, the CSPWF and OPBC also tend to avoid violence. The OPBC has publicly renounced citizen arrests (Stoilova, 2016).

The civilian border patrols have generated support and publicity for the four organizations. However, in 2017 with the decrease in migration pressure, patrol activities have ceased, leading the organizations to focus on other activities to sustain their public profile and relevance, without significant success.

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