site.btaUPDATED Nine Arrested after Anti-euro Protesters Storm European Commission Building in Sofia

Nine people were detained after a rally on Saturday organized by the Vazrazhdane party against the adoption of the euro, when protesters stormed the building of the European Commission in Sofia. 

The protest began in front of the Bulgarian National Bank building at noon. 

Protesters were carrying the Bulgarian flag and flags of the Vazrazhdane party. Some were carrying signs ‘Yes to the Bulgarian Lev’, ‘No to the Euro’. They also burned effigies of Valdis Dombrovskis, Christine Lagarde, and Paschal Donohoe.

“I am here to defend Bulgaria, to defend the Bulgarian people,”Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov told journalists. “We are in a campaign to preserve the Bulgarian lev. If there is no referendum, we will block the work of the National Assembly,” Kostadinov said. 

Tensions esalated in front of the building European Commission and European Parliament representation building in Sofia. Protesters threw red paint, firecrackers, and eggs at the building, and set the door on fire. The police pushed back the demonstrators further away from the building. Firefighters, gendarmerie units, and ambulances were dispatched at the scene.

Ten police officers sustained minor injuries. The Interior Ministry said.

The government condemned Saturday's actions of the Vazrazhdane party in a statement to the media.

"Attacks against institutions, whether national or European, are unacceptable and contrary to the rule of law. Especially by supporters of a party that has representatives in the European Parliament.

"It is worrying that earlier this week similar actions were directed against the Bulgarian National Bank. The democratic right to protest does not include aggression, destruction of public property and attacks on police officers. The State will not tolerate attempts at destabilization and will take all necessary measures to ensure public order," the statement said.

On Sunday, Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov defended the protest in a Facebook post: “The vast majority of the Bulgarian people do not want the euro and want to keep the Bulgarian lev. Vazrazhdane, as the only Bulgarian political organization in Parliament, will defend its people. At the cost of everything, and with the help of its allies in Europe.”