Bulgarian Greens Step Up in Support of Turkey Protesters

The unrest reflects growing disquiet at PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan's administration and his Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Party. Photo by EPA/BGNES

Bulgarians are to gather in a peaceful rally in front of the Turkish embassy in Sofia to express their solidarity with the protesters who have suffered a violent police crackdown in neighboring Turkey.

The event has been organized by the local Greens party.

“Police are cracking down on the civil protest of tens of thousands of people in Istanbul,” the Greens have said on Facebook, reminding that the protest has been triggered by a controversial park redevelopment plan in the Gezi Park near Istanbul’s Teksim square.

The Greens have cited unofficial sources as saying that the violent crackdown has resulted in hundreds of injuries and even casualties.

“Police are suppressing the human rights of the protesters,” the Greens have declared.

Police have fired tear gas and water cannons to prevent crowds of protesters chanting “unite against fascism” and “government resign” from reaching Taksim, where hundreds were injured in clashes on Friday.

The protest at Taksim’s Gezi Park started late on Monday after trees were torn up under the redevelopment plan, but has widened into a broader demonstration against the prime minister and his Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Party.

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