A protest took place in Velingrad in support of the farmers whose flocks of sheep have been quarantined because of positive tests for sheep and goat plague. To stop the spread of the disease, access to the area around the farms has been restricted.

The protest is over a decision by the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency to euthanize the sheep because of positive tests for sheep and goat plague. On Thursday, agency officials took tests for the second time, with the samples once again returning positive. The farmers are contesting these results, saying that they have sent samples they have themselves taken to a licensed laboratory in Greece, and that they have retuned negative.

“The samples came back this afternoon – we took 300 tests, and they are 100% positive,” caretaker Minister of Agriculture Georgi Tahov on his part said at a briefing on Friday. “We have no doubts in the first or in the second tests,” Minister Tahov said. The state administration is ready to compensate the farmers affected fully after the animals are euthanized, to cover the disinfection of the facility and to provide other assistance. Minister Tahov stated further that caretaker PM Dimitar Glavchev had tasked him with holding negotiations with the farmers, owners of the sheep in question because there has been interference by a political force.

There is an enhanced police presence but the situation is calm.