On Sunday, participants in anti-government protests that continue in Bulgaria for the 25th day blocked traffic on the international highway E-79, which leads to Greece, near the city of Blagoevgrad. The action lasted for about an hour and a half, which led to many kilometers of traffic jams.
Additional police and gendarmerie forces were pulled to the site of the protests, which managed, without admitting clashes, to force the protesters off the road. At the same time, the blockade of the road section between the cities of Stara Zagora and Haskovo by protesters continues. It began on Friday after an unsuccessful attempt to block traffic on the Thrace motorway.
The protesters also blocked the crossroads at Sofia University in the capital. According to the demonstrators, the disobedience was provoked by police officers who stopped the car of one of the protesters’ groups last night. In response to the actions of the law enforcement officers at the intersection where the car was stopped, the protesters set up a new tent city. It became the third in a row, along with the towns on Independence Square and Orlov Most, which significantly disrupt traffic in the center of Sofia.
The police called the night incident a provocation by the protesters.
“We have taken a principled position and do not allow transport to the Orlov Bridge, an exception is made only for cars that bring water and food to the protesters. This is done in order to avoid possible additional conflicts and road accidents”, – Deputy Chief of the Security Police of Sofia Tony Todorov said at a briefing. He said that the actions of law enforcement officers at the time of the incident will be checked.
In connection with the difficult traffic situation, the Sofia City Hall received many complaints from the townspeople. The police fear possible provocations and conflicts between local residents and protesters.