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Tension has escalated even further on the 56th day of anti-government protests in Bulgaria marked with clashes, pepper spray and arrests. Protesters threw fireworks, cans, plastic bottles, stones and eggs at the Police cordon formed in front of the main entrance of the former communist Party House and current National Assembly building.
The provocateurs are football fans, a representative of the protesters told a BNR reporter.
One of the organizers of the protests, lawyer Nikolay Hadzhigenov, told BNT that there were most probably provocateurs among the protesters. Participants at the protests were trying to stop those who were throwing firecrackers at the police in order to prevent further escalation of the tension.
Policemen stepped in front of the cordon with Bulgarian flags in their hands. Protesters are chanting “Mafia”.
The organizers of the protests - the so called "Toxic Trio" gave an ultimatum to the government to resign until Thursday morning. Arman Babykian, who is one of the members of the "Toxic Trio", called on the protesters to come back tomorrow at 9 am at Independence Square downtown Sofia to voice their discontent.
At 11 p.m., a water cannon was positioned in the protest area. Ivaylo Ivanov, Secretary General of the Ministry of Interior, told Nova TV that many police officers were injured during today's protests. Information on their number is still being summarized. Ivanov confirmed that the escalation was caused by well-organized football fans.
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