Anti-Government Protests Block Two Sofia Intersections

Two major intersections in downtown Sofia were blocked by protestors on Thursday morning as anti-government demonstrations went into a 22nd day, the Interior Ministry reported. Police patrols were diverting vehicular traffic at the two spots: Eagles Bridge and the intersection of Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd at the corner of the President's Administration.

Georgi Hadzhiev, Director of the Sofia Directorate of Interior, told journalists that serious traffic disruptions are expected in the city during the day. Protestors put up 10 tents at Eagles Bridge. Another eight tents and about a dozen protestors could be seen near the President's Administration. "Talks with protectors have been unproductive," Hadzhiev complained.

On Wednesday night, four or five intersections in Sofia blocked by protestors were cleared only after lengthy talks with police. No arrests were made, Hadzhiev said.

He added: "Some protestors try to impose rules and to tell police officers what to do. We are very patient, but still, there are limits. We have been subjected to extreme stress and provocations. Some protectors insult the police."

The blockades on Thursday morning caused changes to nine bus routes and four trolleybus routes in Sofia's public transport system, City Hall reported.

Politicians issued messages of dialogue and called on the protestors to observe the law and not to block roads. These included Prime Minister Boyko Borissov (on Wednesday) and Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Krassimir Karakachanov (on Thursday).

Nikolai Hadzhigenov, a lawyer who is one of the organizers of the protests, told Bulgarian National Radio: "We will keep up the blockades. [...] Our actions will escalate, we will do something new, something extra every day until we break their [the government's] hands."

Source: BTA