in the border station Blagoevgrad (Bulgaria) //
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Svetlana: I was brought by force to Macedonia. They told me, I got to be a waitress, but they did not tell me, that I am going to be a whore. I didn't know where to go, so I just sat around and remained silent. It took three hours to get me illegaly over the border. A woman which sold me was with me. I don't know how much she got for me, but others told me later that it's around 300 or 700 DM. Or 1000 DM for the beauty one...
Q: For one human being?
Svetlana: That's a lot of money, isn't it?
Q: Where did they bring you exactly?
Svetlana: First to Velesta, then Tetovo, then Samagorsk. In Velesta I was 2 months, in Tetovo too... Also in Samagorsk. I thought I will be cought by police until New Years Day 2000 to 2001, because there have been so many razzias there. But they did hide us. I got sold again, this time to Samagorsk. There have been razzias too, but the pimp did not have any problems with the police.
Q: Tell us about the other girls...
Svetlana: There have been 2 girls from Moldavia, 2 from Romania and a bulgarian girl who belonged to another pimp...
Q: Have there been minors?
Svetlana: Yes. 15 and 16 years. And one was 17. She came also through Macedonia, like me. Terrible. They have also been trafficked everywhere around, also in Gostivar... But most of the girls came from Moldavia and Romania...
Q: Tell us about the clients...
Svetlana: There have been Germans, Albanians... No Macedonians, only Albanians and Germans. The Germans came every Sunday, regulary... They paid us 20 Vodka and then up to the room. They have been soldiers. Very busy. But they did not help me to get back to Bulgaria...
Q: Can you describe the german johns?
Svetlana: They have been 14, 15 or 16 people. They came in big groups. They came all directly from Germany. Don't know from where exactly... German soldiers... They have been scared of their chiefs. That he will catch them in a brothel and make them trouble. They were not allowed to go with prostitutes during their service...
Q: But they did it indeed...
Svetlana: Yes, all the time... As clients they have been fine. Very nice to the girls. How can I say... They simply had a good soul...
Q: Do you remember their names?
Svetlana: No, I don't know. We talked with hands and I speak only very few english. But they talked a lot in englisch with the pimp. They seemed to get on well with him, but I don't understand english...
Q: Did the soldiers have sex with minors?
Svetlana: Yes, for 100 DM or 50 DM. That's what they paid for the little and took them to the rooms. I want to forget that all. Just forget...
(...)
They came on other days too... Sometimes on Saturday, but mostly on Sunday. They have been hanging around few hours. They always arrived around 7pm and left by midnight. They did not come in uniforms, just normally dressed. With taxis. After they got back to Germany for Christmas and New Years Day, the girls have been sad, that there are no german clients, who aren't so rough at all. The Germans came the whole November and December, even after their commander did forbid that. They said, they would get a lot of trouble. They told the pimp, that if someone would be coming, he should alarm them... After a while the pimp employed a guardian. They paid up to 100 DM for a girl. I saw them many times taking a 16 years old girl. They did not know she is so young. The girls said they are 18 or 19.
Q: Do you have any plans for the future...?
Svetlana: I just want to go home... I was in the 8. grade at school. I was brought to Greece with 17. Also by the mafia. I had long hair these days, like you. I did cut them off then, so nobody can recognize me. I got back then after a razzia...
Q: Do you think you are ill?
Svetlana: No, I don't think so. But I don't know if I can still have children.
Q: Where did you go after the razzia?
Svetlana: I was in jail in Gostivar for one day. This was terrible. Very dirty. We have been sleeping on the concrete ground. So I was only sitting. We've been 12 girls in a cell. You couldn't sleep there. Then they brought me to Kriva Palanka. The police station there was better... I want home now and get a shower. I want to have a nice work and no more do this...
Q: Have there been girls who've been in the West?
Svetlana: Yes, many. There have been 5 or 6 who've been sold to Italy. One has been in Turkey.
Q: During your time in Tetovo, where have you been there?
Svetlana: In Tetovo I was in the "Cobra-Bar".
Q: Did girls get home from Macedonia?
Svetlana: One romanian girl who was with us has been 1 year and 4 months in Macedonia in brothels. After a razzia, she has been deported to Serbian border. But there the pimps just lurked for her and brought her back to the brothel.
source: Inge Bell archive (Radiovision.info)