site.btaSofia Mayor Calls "Unacceptable" Protests Threatening Public Order, Safety of Citizens

The Sofia Municipality finds the holding of any protest that is not peaceful and that threatens the order and safety of all citizens of Sofia absolutely unacceptable, said Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev on Friday at a news briefing. He was speaking hours after a crowd caused disturbances outside the National Theatre in their attempts to disrupt the premiere of the George Bernard Shaw play Arms and the Man, which they found humiliating for Bulgaria.

The play is directed by the world-famous actor-director John Malkovich. Despite the police presence, the crowd tried to storm the theatre and prevented many theatre-goers from getting in. Only a small audience was able to get in the theatre, mostly members of the media to watch the first-night performance.

The Mayor explained that when the City Hall gets an application for a public event, they ask the state law-enforcing authorities if any problems or safety risk should be expected, and if the answer is negative, they have to give the event a green light.