Anti-government Protest Rally Continues to Block Key Junction in Capital As Police Reduces Number of Officers Guarding Protests Due to Rising Coronavirus Cases among Staff

The anti-government protests entered their 24th day on Saturday. The two key demands of the protesters are resignation of the Boyko Borissov government and of Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev. The protesters continue to block a key junction in downtown Sofia, the Eagles Bridge, where a tent camp was put up four days ago.

Meanwhile, head of the Security Police Department of the Sofia Police, Commissar Radoslav Stoinev, said on Saturday that the number of officers guarding the rallies will be reduced by about a third due to the rising coronavirus incidence among the police staff. Stoinev said daily that there are 5-6 cases of newly infected or quarantined police staff. There have been no police in serious health conditions.

Also on Saturday, the Regional Directorate of the Interior in Stara Zagora, Southern Bulgaria, provided details about a blockade of the access road to the Trakiya motorway protesters there had planned for July 31. The busy motorway connects Sofia with the seaside city of Bourgas. The police formed a cordon and prevented the protesters from reaching the motorway, who then blocked a road that runs between Stara Zagora and the southern town of Haskovo.

Before making the cordon, the police told the protesters that blocking a main road poses health and life hazards not only to them but to other users of the road. In response, the protesters threatened with civil disobedience which forced the police to form the cordon and prevent the motorway blockade. NV/ZH

Source: BTA