site.btaSofia University Threatens Protests after It Is Dispossessed of Building

Sofia, January 4 (BTA) - The Academic Board of the St Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia is threatening protests after the government dispossessed it of one of its buildings, Board member Simeon Georgiev told the Bulgarian National Radio Thursday.

The university received the building of what was once a vocational high school in central Sofia, after it gave up another building in 2011 in a property dispute with the Union of Bulgarian Artists. The newly acquired building was designated for use by the medical students of Sofia University. In the last days of 2017, the government decided to take it away from the University so that it can be used by the judiciary.

The University leadership demands to receive another building in compensation for the one it is losing. It also insists that the government should provide adequate financing for the upkeep of the university buildings and the library.

They threaten to go ahead with protests - unless the government satisfies their demands or makes a commitment to do so. The forms of protests are being considered and vary from suspension of classes to protest rallies, wrapping the University in black and banning government officials in the University.

January 22 is mentioned as a tentative date for the protests.