site.btaTrade Union Leader: Arresting Trade Union Vice President Is Police Abuse

During a press conference here on Monday, the President of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB), Plamen Dimitrov, said that the arrest of CITUB Vice President Todor Kapitanov that took place earlier Monday is police abuse.

Dimitrov stated that this was an instance of police abuse that was not triggered in any way. He spoke to Interior Minister Daniel Mitov, who promised that Kapitanov will be released immediately and that no charges will be brought against him. Kapitanov is currently detained at the police station in the village of Trud. The plan to block Trakia Motorway was not news to the police, as all coordination procedures have been passed. Dimitrov reported that Kapitanov is handcuffed in the police station, "seemingly for corrective purposes". The leader of the trade union said that the unjust arrest will not be left without consequences.

Forestry workers continue their protest. Dimitrov said that Trakia Motorway will not be blocked after all. Police officers reported that the windows of one of their vehicles was damaged, while protesters were trying to block the road. Dimitrov suggested that several protesters fell on the vehicle while being pushed by police officers, while the police disagree with that account of the events.

Dimitrov said: "We are left with the bitter truth that an authorized and coordinated protest by Bulgarian workers, who rightly put forward their demands, are now being subjected to police violence to discourage and dishearten them." He added that provocations from the police radicalize the public and lead to outrage.

The President of CITUB pointed out that the demands of the employees of the state forest enterprises were handed over four months ago. The most important demand is a 15% wage increase from June 1. The CITUB will organize a new protest of forestry and other workers in front of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food on Tuesday.