Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Police protest against politicization of clashes during protest by football fans

| updated on 11/22/23 5:14 PM
The police protest in front of parliament building
Photo: BGNES

Hundreds of police officers came out to protest, in their words spontaneously, in front of parliament building, demanding an end to the politicization of the events from 16 November, when football fans organized a protest against the Bulgarian Football Union management during the Bulgaria-Hungary football match.

What started as a peaceful protest quickly escalated, and in the clashes that ensued football fans and police were injured, and there were numerous arrests.

Pre-trial proceedings are underway against three police officers for excessive use of force. We Continue the Change/Democratic Bulgaria (PP/DB) demanded the resignation of Interior Minister Kalin Stoyanov.

PP/DB co-chair Kiril Petkov stated that Kalin Stoyanov was nominated to the post of interior minister by GERB. GERB leader Boyko Borissov responded by saying that if Stoyanov was to hand in his resignation, then prime minister Nikolai Denkov (from PP/DB) would have to resign also.

"We should not once again allow the Interior Ministry to be used as a boxing pear by politicians", Bulgaria’s Minister of Interior Kalin Stoyanov told journalists before his hearing in the National Assembly Committee on Internal Security and Public Order. Minister Stoyanov told the MPs that Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev had coordinated the protest of the football fans, without requesting an opinion from the Sofia Metropolitan Directorate of Interior, as is the practice in such events. Kalin Stoyanov said that the leadership of the Interior Ministry had taken stronger security measures, because it was informed that some of the football fans intended to force their way into the National Stadium "Vasil Levski" and terminate the football match between Bulgaria and Hungary. "We categorically dissociate ourselves from violence against both protesting citizens and police officers", Minister Stoyanov noted.




Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Sunny Wednesday with temperatures reaching up to 15°C

Wednesday will be mostly sunny. There will be weak to moderate west-northwesterly wind. The lowest temperatures are expected to be between minus 3° and 2°C; in Sofia - around minus 1°C. The highest temperature will reach 10°C to 15°C;..

published on 11/26/24 6:50 PM

The decision for the full membership of Bulgaria and Romania in Schengen has been drafted

According to unofficial information, the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU has drafted a decision for the full admission of Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen Area. The draft document states that from January 1, 2025, checks on persons..

published on 11/26/24 6:17 PM

The Constitutional Court admits all five requests for the annulment of the Parliamentary elections

The Constitutional Court has admitted all five requests for the partial or complete annulment of the elections for the 51st National Assembly, submitted by We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB), Vazrazhdane, There is Such a People (ITN),..

published on 11/26/24 5:46 PM