Tensions rise at national protest against anti-epidemic measures in front of Bulgarian Parliament

published on 1/12/22 2:04 PM | updated on 1/12/22 4:25 PM

Photo: BGNES

Thousands of people from the whole country have joined a national protest against the Green Certificate and anti-epidemic measures organized by the Vazrazhdane political party. Protesting citizens have blocked the traffic on the central boulevard "Tsar Osvoboditel" downtown Sofia. They are currently moving towards the building of the Health Ministry.

Tensions between the protesters and the police and gendarmerie guarding them escalated after the organizers of the protest called for an assault on the parliamentary building.

The crowd broke through the police cordon and reached the main entrance of the parliamentary building, BNR reporters reported from the scene.

"Today we will enter the building and ask them questions, and tomorrow we will take them out of there. What is happening today is just the beginning of a process that cannot be stopped, because we are proud Bulgarians and we are fighting not only for us, but also for our children, because what we have at the moment is a form of health fascism. It is high time we protected our rights. Long live Bulgaria!", said in front of the crowd the deputy chairman of the parliamentary group of Vazrazhdane party, Tsoncho Ganev, BNR reporter Violeta Ashikova reported.

Before the start of the preliminarily announced peaceful protest, a man carrying a gas weapon was detained in Sofia. An attempt to enter the building of the National Assembly, in which 8 police officers were injured was prevented during the protest actions, the Ministry of Interior announced.

The journalistic team of bTV was also attacked. A few days ago, the media revealed that one third of MPs of the Vazrazhdane party, which has spoken out against anti-epidemic measures, have been vaccinated.

Shortly before the protest began, MPs were instructed to leave the National Assembly building quickly.

"Today, on the day when we have the maximum number of new coronavirus infections since the start of the pandemic, talking about protesting against precautionary measures and the Green Certificate is a paradox," Bulgarian virologist Prof. Radka Argirova told BGNES. According to her, the competent law enforcement authorities should hold the organizers of such protests accountable.

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