site.btaNo Sofia Municipality Authorization for Blocking Parliament Entrances, Interior Ministry

The entrances to the National Assembly were blocked without authorization from Sofia Municipality, the Interior Ministry said Thursday referring to a protest staged earlier in the day by MPs of Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB). The blockade affected access points within the Parliament's security zone, including routes for ambulances and fire engines.

Sofia Municipality told BTA that the coalition had only filed a request for a protest in Independence Square, which does not include the security area around Parliament.

According to the Interior Ministry, police took measures to secure public order based on an approved plan by Chief Commissioner Lyubomir Nikolov, head of the Sofia Directorate of the Interior. The authorization granted by the Municipality specified the protest location as the paved area of Independence Square, outside the security zone of state institutions, and specified that vehicles may only stop or park in designated areas.

Police found groups, mostly MPs, blocking Parliament's entrances and exits with vehicles outside the authorized time and place. Immediate measures were taken to ensure access for blue lamp vehicles and parliamentary service cars.

Traffic Police officers will identify the owners of cars parked in violation of the law on Dondukov Boulevard and in front of Parliament's entrances, and penalties will be imposed, the Ministry said.