Sofia University Closes Doors, Fights for Botanical Garden

Bathing in sunlight most of the year, the botanical garden is home to more than 2000 plant species belonging to 85 families and 200 genera. Photo by BGNES

The Sofia University is closing its doors on April 4 as a protest, the dean, Prof. Ivan Ilchev, has announced.

The protest was triggered by the ruling of the Supreme Administrative Court (VAS), which states that the ownership of the Botanical Garden in the Black Sea town of Balchik should be transferred from the Sofia University to the state.

According to Ilchev, there are economic interests behind the court's ruling. He called out on students to join the protest.

The dean has stated that the Sofia University will be closed until the Council of Ministers decided to bring back the rights on the Botanical Garden.

The initiative "Student's Voice" has already backed the decision of the Academic Council. The organizers are preparing discussions, which aim at informing students about the problem.

The Botanical Garden in Balchik has been a subject of disputes between the government and the Sofia University for years. Its ownership will be the main topic during Thursday's press conference of Inchev.

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