At the beginning of March, residents of the Bulgarian town of Belene gathered in protest against the placement of a Syrian refugee family in the town. The refugees came to Belene at the invitation of the local Catholic priest, Father Paolo Cortese, who offered them shelter and help to integrate into the community. The Syrian family decided to leave Belene, because of the negative attitudes of others, and the priest was withdrawn from Bulgaria, as he had started to receive death threats. "Bulgaria died in Belene; justice died in Belene," said Father Cortez, just before leaving the country.