Protesters in Sofia demand the resignation in Interior Minister

Around 18:00 on July 13, people gathered to protest outside the building of the Ministry of Interior, demanding the resignation of the Minister of Interior, Mladen Marinov. They were carrying flags and slogan inscribed on placard “ Who commands the Minister of Interior?”

Hristo Ivanov, the leader of “Yes Bulgaria” party and co-chair of Democtratic Bulgaria coalition and Nayden Zelennogorski, leader of a right-wing party DEN were also at the protest.

According to protesters, the minister should step down for two main reasons.

The first is because of the events of Friday (July 10) in Sofia, when, according them there was police violence.

A person who does not work for the protection of the members of the public and the state. He does not have the courage to stand up and say that my people are people and can also make mistakes, he must step down," said Lusa Angelova.

"The Ministry of Interior handled the situation with the protests in Sofia absolutely inadequately," said Naiden Zelenogorski - chairman of DEN

The second reason is the events from Rossenets. The protesting members of the public say that the tension ran high because of the Ministry of Interior, that their actions were purposeful in order to lead to ethnic conflict. But in the end such was prevented.

The police were trying to artificially mix the two groups and provoke ethnic conflict, Hristo Valchanov said.

"These are completely sufficient reasons to want this minister to be ousted immediately," Hristo Ivanov said.

Around 18:00, the protesters started a procession.

photos by Dessislava Kulelieva