site.btaAnti-government Protest Rally Continues to Block Key Junction in Capital As Police Reduces Number of Officers Guarding Protests Due to Rising Coronavirus Cases among Staff

Sofia, August 1 (BTA) - The anti-government protests entered
their 24th day on Saturday. The two key demands of the
protesters are resignation of the Boyko Borissov government and
of Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev. The protesters continue to
block a key junction in downtown Sofia, the Eagles Bridge, where
 a tent camp was put up four days ago.

Meanwhile, head of the Security Police Department of the Sofia
Police, Commissar Radoslav Stoinev, said on Saturday that the
number of officers guarding the rallies will be reduced by about
 a third due to the rising coronavirus incidence among the
police staff. Stoinev said daily that there are 5-6 cases of
newly infected or quarantined police staff. There have been no
police in serious health conditions.

Also on Saturday, the Regional Directorate of the Interior in
Stara Zagora, Southern Bulgaria, provided details about a
blockade of the access road to the Trakiya motorway protesters
there had planned for July 31. The busy motorway connects Sofia
with the seaside city of Bourgas. The police formed a cordon and
 prevented the protesters from reaching the motorway, who then
blocked a road that runs between Stara Zagora and the southern
town of Haskovo.

Before making the cordon, the police told the protesters that
blocking a main road poses health and life hazards not only to
them but to other users of the road. In response, the protesters
 threatened with civil disobedience which forced the police to
form the cordon and prevent the motorway blockade. NV/ZH