site.btaPM: Policemen Who Overstepped Their Powers during Recent Football Fans' Protests Must Be Fired

Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov said here Thursday that the police officers who overstepped their powers as they handled the November 16 protests against the leadership of the Bulgarian Football Union, must be fired and the police must protect the press. Denkov was speaking at the start of the government's weekly meeting.  

He added that the huge majority of policemen did their job well.

The November 16 protests started as a peaceful rally against the football union leadership but went violent, leading to clashes between football hooligans and police. Multiple videos published on the social media showed police officers using unnecessary force against random people and members of the press. Those prompted calls for the resignation of Interior Minister Kalin Stoyanov, to which the Prime Minister said he was willing to consider his replacement but GERB and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms are adamant that Stoyanov should stay.

On Thursday, the Prime Minister was very specific about what he expects in terms of actions by the Interior Minister.

He said: "Journalists cannot be expected to wear helmets to protests. In order to guarantee the rights of citizens to access information, we must first guarantee the safety and rights of the media that cover such events. This is their duty and their right. The vast number of protesters used the opportunity they have by law and by right to protest when they disagree with a decision of certain institutions. This was not a combat zone; it should have been a peaceful protest. It is very important to have a comprehensive strategy and plan to prevent such cases in the future. A strategy is needed to protect journalists on the ground. The Interior Ministry needs to start training police officers on how to respect the rights of journalists and protect them during protests."

Denkov said further that there were clearly provocateurs among them who challenged the police and "they are very much to blame for what happened". "These provocateurs must be tracked down, investigated and, where necessary, convicted. That is the duty of the police, the investigating authorities and the prosecution. The vast majority of police officers did their job as they should and can serve as an example. But there were among them some who exceeded their rights, who used unnecessary violence and therefore they should be investigated and punished."

As for what he expects of the Interior Minister to do, he said: "Since I heard various interpretations of what I expect from the Interior Ministry, I want to make it clear that I expect a report from the Minister that details all case files that have been opened, to say clearly who provoked the protesters, what their responsibility was, how it was established and what punishment they should receive. 

Denkov said that he is aware of an alert that the BOEC counter-corruption association has sent to the prosecution service, about the actions of certain police officers who have demonstrated fondness for foreign paramilitary organizations and have threatened a government minister. He expects the prosecution service to look into this alert.

Also, he said he expects actions towards a thorough reform at the Interior Ministry "to make sure such people cannot serve at the Interior Ministry". "It is inadmissible for a law-enforcer to threaten a government minister. There are established ways to make heard their discontent with one decision or another," the Prime Minister added.

"What will determine my attitude to the Interior Ministry and the Minister will be the measures I see in the reports that I expect regarding the punishing of the culprits," Denkov said.