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.
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