Basic facts about the operation: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Date: 23 and 24 September 2015 Itinerary: Sofia – Baku – Islamabad – Baku – Sofia State organising the forced return: Republic of Bulgaria Escort leader: Rosen Talov, Bulgaria Number of escorted persons: 30 (28 male, one female and two children) Participating states: Austria, the Netherlands, Spain, Poland and Germany. Three of the four phases of forced return were monitored: the stage prior to departure; departure (flight); arrival and handing over the escorted foreigners to the receiving state. The initial phase was not monitored as the preparations, conversations, medical examinations and other actions in the stage prior to the foreigners’ removal had been accomplished earlier and in the morning of 23 September 2015 before the observer appeared at the airport. On the basis of this monitoring, the observer would like to make the following specific recommendations to the Ministry of Interior regarding each of the monitored phases. Regarding the phase prior to the removal, the observer recommends that: 1. Organisers of forced return of foreigners promptly notify the observers of the scheduled initial phase so that it can be monitored too. 2. Organisers present medical documents certifying that the people removed are apt to flying. Regarding the phase prior to departure, the observer recommends that: 1. The place for conducting searches should be changed in future operations for the forced return of foreigners. This should be a closed space where luggage is scanned and people walk through metal detection equipment or are searched with metal detectors. 2. All officers should be instructed and trained what personal belongings are subject to seizure or required to be packed by the persons subject to forced return. 3. The MoI should study the options to set up a specialised team of escorts (e.g. 100 officers) and train them accordingly. 4. Vehicles should be air-conditioned and appropriately equipped for the specialised operations in question. Regarding the phase of departure (flight), the observer recommends that: 1. In future operations vehicles should be inspected in terms of compliance with the requirements for comfortable and safe travel. 2. In case of stop overs where passengers may not leave the vehicle, passengers should be provided with drinks and access to toilet facilities. Regarding the phase of arrival and handing over escorted foreigners to the receiving state, the observer recommends that: 23