Bulgarian Health Minister Firmly Defends Full Smoking Ban

Bulgarian Health Minister Desislava Atanasova has firmly denied any possibility of the full smoking ban in closed public spaces being lifted in the country.

Atanasova's statement followed Thursday's rally in which business representatives, as well as regular citizens, assembled in front of the Bulgarian Parliament in Sofia to protest against the ban.

"No one is restricting their right and will to smoke," Atanasova commented, as cited by the Focus news agency.

She reminded that health experts have already had their say about the harmful effects of smoking for smokers and non-smokers alike.

The full smoking ban in closed public spaces was introduced in Bulgaria on June 1.

Business representatives recently approached Prime Minister Boyko Borisov insisting on revoking the ban, but the government has firmly refused to lift it.

Bulgaria is consistently ranking among the top 5 European countries in terms of smoking rates, both in the general population and among the young.

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