Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Police protest against politicization of clashes during protest by football fans

| updated on 11/22/23 5:14 PM
The police protest in front of parliament building
Photo: BGNES

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.




Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Temperatures go down on Sunday, rain and snow in the forecast

Over the next 24 hours the weather in the country will be dynamic. After temporarily dispersing, after midnight the clouds will increase and the precipitation will pick up from the Northwest. During the day on Sunday the rain will continue, and..

published on 4/5/25 6:10 PM

Former athlete detained with 30 kgs. of cocaine worth over 5 million Leva

The Sofia district court has left 45-year old Bulgarian former athlete Petar Dachev in custody. Dachev was detained on 2 April in the region of Petrohan pass for possession of 30 kgs. of cocaine, public service TV BNT reports. The cocaine, hidden..

published on 4/5/25 5:39 PM
Daniel Mitov

Interior minister orders nationwide inspection of dangerous road sections

Against the background of protests in different towns across the country against the “war on the roads”, the poor condition of roads, corruption in public procurement and flawed road repairs, Minister of Interior Daniel Mitov has ordered a..

published on 4/5/25 2:28 PM