site.btaGERB: Socialist Leader Ninova Is Behind Provocations in SE Bulgaria

Sofia, July 21 (BTA) - Speaking at a briefing here on Saturday,  Anton Todorov and Toma Bikov of the ruling GERB party said that  "the provocations in Southeastern Bulgaria and the area of  Sharkovo village, in the form of sabotages of the institutions'  actions against the ovine rinderpest outbreak, have been  organized by the opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) and,  in particular, its leader Kornelia Ninova".

Todorov showed as proof a video from July 19, in which one of  the most active protestors hindering the veterinarian services'  work, Todor Atanassov, says Ninova has instructed them how to  act when they encounter police officers. According to Bikov, Ninova told the protestors to remain in place and not leave when  the police try to stop them.

"If proven that the provocations in Sharkovo were initiated by  Kornelia Ninova, we will refer the case to the prosecuting  magistracy, because this is a threat to national security,"  Bikov said.

GERB expects Ninova to say immediately whether she knows Todor  Atanassov, whether she communicated with him during her time in  Southeastern Bulgaria the previous weekend, and whether she  stayed in contact with other people from the groups that  organized the provocations there, as well as with people who  were on site in luxury cars and who attempted to hinder the  institutions' work. Ninova should also say whether she has given  the organizers instructions how to act, Bikov said.

Approached by reporters, Ninova refused to comment on these accusations, saying as quoted by various media: "The meeting is on, today's topic is the future of Bulgaria and nothing else." She was referring to Saturday's national meeting of the BSP, where her party presented a Vision for Bulgaria project for the development of the country. 

Commenting on the matter, Nikolay Nikolov, a BSP member of the Sofia Municipal Council, asked rhetorically where should Ninova be, if not in Sharkovo: in her office or on the tennis court like certain people. "She was also present at the livestock breeders' protest in front of the Council of Ministers building [on Wednesday]. Each person in this hall [attending the BSP's national meeting] - municipal councillor, MP - is representing the BSP. By being among the people, we can solve their problems," Nikolov also said as quoted by the Focus news agency.