The 56th day of antigovernment protest and the so-called “Grand National Uprising” ended with the removal of tent camps and blockades downtown Bulgaria’s capital Sofia.

A protest rally is scheduled in front of the National Assembly building downtown Sofia on the 57^th day of protests in Bulgaria.

Tension escalated during last night’s mass antigovernment protests. Demonstrators threw firecrackers, bottles, stones and other materials at the Police forces located in front of the Parliament’s building, BNR reported. Pepper spray was used again. 126 people were arrested downtown Sofia. 60 of them have criminal records, Director of the Sofia Police Department Senior Commissioner Georgi Hadzhiev said. The leader of Vazrazhdane party Kostadin Kostadinov is among the detainees. At 3 am Bulgaria’s Police removed the tent camps and the blockades at key intersections in the capital city.

Protests were also held in the towns of Stara Zagora, Varna and Veliko Tarnovo, BNR informs.

80 people were wounded during yesterday’s protests, data of this country’s Police show. Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense Krasimir Karakachanov supported the actions of Bulgaria’s Police and called on President Radev to do the same. In Minister Karakachanov’s words, “Bulgaria’s Premier must stand behind the actions of the Police and order the necessary legal measures to restore order in the country”.