Bulgarian institutions were taking seriously requests for Bulgarian citizenship, as citizenship was related to the maintenance of the national interests and security, Vice-President Angel Marin said.

Marin told national private channel bTV that the number of citizenship requests have increased over the past years.

In 1990 officials received 1039 citizenship requests, said Marin. In 2001 the number reached 5495, said he.

At the time the increase was noted Bulgaria’s EU entry was still seen only as prospect for the future, Marin said. The motivation behind the citizenship requests was not related to union entry and the benefits for Bulgarian citizens related to it, said he.

Marin said as quoted by Focus news agency that in 2006, 5656 people received Bulgarian citizenship. Most requests came from Macedonians, said he.

The submission of fake documents and incorrect data slowed down the process and candidates had to wait longer to receive Bulgarian citizenship, said Marin.