site.btaUPDATED Sofia Directorate of Interior Head: Protest Proceeded Calmly, Organized Groups at Centre of Tensions

“The protest proceeded peacefully, quietly, and calmly, and I congratulate the citizens for that,” said Chief Commissioner Lyubomir Nikolov, head of the Sofia Directorate of the Interior at a news briefing on Tuesday.

He explained that the escalation was caused by individuals who had been organized in advance.

A total of 71 people have been detained, Nikolov added.

On Monday evening, tens of thousands of citizens took to the streets in Sofia to protest the adoption of the 2026 State Budget Bill. As the protest moved to GERB's and MRF - New Beginning's office buildings in central Sofia, tensions escalated. Footage from major TV stations showed scenes of clashes between masked protesters and police officers, with burning garbage containers and a police van destroyed in the late hours of Monday.

Three police officers were injured during last night’s protest. During checks at the 21 organized checkpoints, numerous prohibited items were found, including a gas pistol with a loaded cartridge in the chamber on a citizen. He noted that the aggression toward the police was unprovoked.

He said that the police could not remove aggressive protesters from the peaceful participants in order to avoid triggering a mass riot, but all aggressors were filmed. Among the aggressive citizens, specific individuals were identified as belonging to local football factions and juvenile hooligans, some of whom were also detained.

Regarding those arrested, Nikolov said that the son of a well-known businessman from Ruse was among those detained; at present, evidence is being collected that he organized other people. He set fire to a trash container on a central street. Another individual was arrested in possession of 31,000 BGN in various bills and notes with street names, which are suspected to have been intended for other participants in provocations.

Concerning the power outages in central Sofia during the protest, Lyubomir Nikolov said that it is currently being investigated whether this was a technical failure or deliberate damage.