site.btaSofia-Varna Road Closed for 2nd Day by Protest over Alleged Botched Investigation of Motorcyclist's Death

The Sofia - Varna road at Popovo (Northeast Bulgaria) remains blocked for a second day because of a protest against the alleged botched investigation of a young motorcyclist's death back in April. Dozens of cars and people are blocking the road round the clock, which has not been freed and it remains under a complete blockade, protest organizer Simon Milkov told BTA.

People are protesting after the death of a 24-year-old motorcyclist in early April near the Popovo village of Kardam in a crash. According to his family and relatives, the crash was not the cause of death and the young man was killed.

According to Milkov, the demands of the protesters remain unchanged - the resignation of police officers from the Popovo Police Department - Ivan Stefanov, Rositsa Ruseva and Velyo Atanasov, in the quickest possible way. "We will not move from here. Every day we will be blocking points. We are getting support from other cities. People are starting to organize themselves," he said.

"I hope that the Bulgarian citizens collectively understand these actions of ours, because they are provoked not by the fact that we have nothing better to do. There are many working families here, mothers with children. It is a small town and most people are like that. The protestors, the residents of Popovo and Popovo Municipality, want these people to leave. They want the long-awaited change in Popovo to happen, and it comes with the resignations of these three individuals," Milkov said.

He said the blockade of the closed section will remain throughout the week. School buses, ambulances and fire trucks will be allowed through, he added.

Simon Milkov also said that a mass protest is being prepared in front of the Regional Directorate of the Interior Ministry in Targovishte on Friday.

Citizens participated in a series of protests in Popovo, Targovishte and Sofia in the last couple of months.

From Popovo the protestors on Sunday headed to the nearby town of Byala, Simon Milkov said.