31 | PROTECTING STATELESS PERSONS FROM ARBITRARY DETENTION IN BULGARIA EPILOGUE Mr. H, who lost his wife and two children in the war in Bosnia and ever since 1992 has lived in Bulgaria, refers to his detention that lasted four months in 2015 and 2016 as “the most humiliating punishment” that he has suffered in his life. In his words, “to live in this place means that you have died and when you come out of here, it is as though you are born again”. Upon being released from detention, he was obliged to report weekly at the local police station, without however any regularisation of his status that would facilitate access to rights. Mr. H. reiterates that he is not a criminal, but he feels that he is being treated as one. Identification and recognition of а statelessness status would give Mr. H. and all persons in his situation a right to live a life with dignity. These persons would not be buried in detention, but they would be born again for a meaningful life.