site.btaInterior Minister Marinov Urges Participants in Ongoing Protests to Obey the Law

November 13 (BTA) - Interior Minister Mladen Marinov urged the participants in ongoing
protests across the country to obey the law, avoid
provocations with the police and follow police orders. Marinov,
held a series of working meetings here on Tuesday
with mayors from the regions of Sliven and Yambol, explained
that everyone has the right to protest peacefully but every
Bulgarian citizen also has the right to free movement and
balance must be found.

He explained that he has instructed police officers to organize
the traffic flow in places where the authorities have been
informed about planned protests and the rules have been
followed, to look for provocateurs and prevent clashes during
the protests.

Police officers will try to organize traffic flow also in those
locations where there was no prior notice about protests.
Marinov added those who broke the law during Sunday's protests
have been fined.

Later on Tuesday the press office of the Interior Ministry said
that protest rallies with prior notice held in many towns in
Bulgaria proceed without major public order violations. Isolated
 provocations that heighten tension notwithstanding, law
enforcers act within their powers, the press release says.

At a news conference also on Tuesday opposition Bulgarian
Socialist Party (BSP) leader Kornelia Ninova said that she will
make a motion to revoke the decision to set higher tax on older
cars before the second-reading debate of the 2019 budget by
Parliament. Some of the protests are caused by the proposed
higher tax on old cars as a measure for cleaner air. Ninova said
 that the BSP does not initiate the protests but supports them.
She said that the grievances raised by the people have a
solution. "There is a place and way for this. The place is the
National Parliament and the way is through laws," Ninova said.
RY/ LN, ZH