site.btaDemonstrators Rally for Rule of Law at Palace of Justice

Citizens gathered in front of the Palace of Justice in Sofia on Thursday evening in a protest supporting the rule of law under the motto "Peevski Out of Power", a reference to MRF-New Beginning leader Delyan Peevski. There was heavy police presence in the area and traffic was disrupted. The event was organized by the Justice for All initiative.

The protesters were expected to march through the capital, their final destination being the historic building of the National Assembly. However, the march did not take place, the protest passed without incident and ended at the same location.

The organizers criticized the lack of justice and referred to the situation as "State capture". Justice for All Chair Petromir Kanchev commented that during the hearings on the detention of former Sofia deputy mayor Nikola Barbutov, who was charged with bribery in late June, and businessman Petar Rafailov, he witnessed inaction by the prosecution aided by the Bulgarian court.

On Thursday, the Sofia Appellate Court left Barbutov in custody and released Rafailov on BGN 10,000 bail.

Members of the Continue the Change party participated in the rally. Bozhidar Bozhanov MP of Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria called on the protesters to observe a minute of silence for a police officer who died of a heart attack while on duty near the Parliament building earlier in the day. The officer's brother was also at the protest, saying the ambulance had arrived very quickly and the emergency medical team had done all they could.