site.btaStarting December 1 Parliament Will No Longer Use Security Zone at St Alexander Nevsky Square

On December 1, the National Assembly will cease using the security zone designated at St Alexander Nevsky Square for the historic Parliament building. National Assembly Chair Raya Nazaryan sent a letter to Interior Minister Daniel Mitov with the details, the Parliament’s press service said on Wednesday.

The announcement states that the security perimeter around the National Assembly building at 2 Narodno Sabranie Square has been coordinated with the Interior Ministry in accordance with the Rules of Organization and Procedure of the National Assembly.

The decision follows a discussion earlier in the day during a meeting of Parliament’s presiding body, where Chair Nazarayan raised the issue. She pointed out that all parliamentary and administrative activities are now concentrated in the building situated at Knyaz Alexander Battenberg Square. Floor leaders of the parliamentary groups expressed differing views on the matter.

According to the press service, Nazarayan believes that the area Parliament will no longer use would be best suited as a pedestrian zone around the St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.

Earlier in the day, Sofia Municipal Council member Boris Bonev, leader of Save Sofia, said he had sent a letter to Parliament proposing amendments to MPs’ Rules of Organization and Procedure that would allow the lawmakers to give the parking area around the Cathedral up. On Tuesday, Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev endorsed the idea that the parking area should serve the public rather than MPs, after Movement for Rights and Freedoms – New Beginning leader Delyan Peevski called on Mayor Terziev to open the parking lot to the people.