site.btaBulgaria’s Foreign Ministry Urges Bulgarians in Serbia to Avoid Large Gatherings amid Ongoing Protests

Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry Friday called on Bulgarian nationals planning to travel to and stay in the Republic of Serbia to avoid large gatherings, follow instructions from local authorities - including law enforcement agencies - and strictly adhere to them.

Due to ongoing protests in Serbia, clashes between protesting groups and police forces are becoming increasingly frequent across the country, including in Belgrade, Novi Sad, Nis, Valjevo, and Cacak, the Ministry said. 

The Foreign Ministry urged Bulgarians to contact the Bulgarian diplomatic and consular missions in the country immediately if assistance is required.

Bulgaria’s Embassy in Belgrade can be reached by telephone at +381 11 3247675 during working hours and at + 381 11 3613980 and + 381 11 36 13990 during non-working hours, or via email at belgrade@mfa.bg and Embassy.Belgrade@mfa.bg. 

The Consulate General of the Republic of Bulgaria in Nis can be contacted at +381 18 516 800 during working hours and at +381 668 408 066 and +381 66 840 80 62 during non-working hours, as well as via email at Nish@mfa.bg. 

Anti-government demonstrations were held in several Serbian cities on Thursday evening. The headquarters of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party in Novi Sad was vandalized. Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic Friday said that 144 individuals were arrested and 75 police officers were injured following clashes between the police and protesters. The protests were sparked by last year's incident at the Novi Sad railway station, which claimed 16 lives.