Students Permanently Occupy Sofia University Main Building

The main building of the St. Kliment Orhidski Sofia University with an 'Occupation' sign hanging Friday night. Photo by OffNews.bg

Protesting students at Bulgaria's Sofia University have decided to permanently occupy the entire central building of the school until the resignation of PM Plamen Oresharski.

Saturday the entrances to the building in downtown Sofia were chained, with no one let in, except students and professors who want to join the protest.

An exception was made for participants in a competition for the hiring of regional prosecutors, which was scheduled to take place in the building Saturday.

Although the occupiers have vowed to stop all classes scheduled in the building, the occupation is not directed against university authorities.

Protesters have vowed to respect the property and to ensure order in the premises. They also said they will allow access to a limited number of administrators to ensure that vital processes in the university will not be halted.

Students have also called for the dissolution of the current parliament, and the calling of new early general elections.

They issued a declaration denouncing what they called "the systematic breach of constitutional order in the country.

They also called for "intolerance on the part of the body politic towards the widespread criminal lawlessness at the highest levels of state government."

The occupy movement at Sofia University flared Wednesday, when students interrupted a regular lecture of Dimitar Tokushev, chair of Bulgaria's Constitutional Court and professor at the university.

Students demanded explanation from Tokushev regarding the Court's decision to confirm the status of controversial media mogul Delyan Peevski as MP.

June 14 Peevski was elected and swore in as chair of Bulgaria's State Agency for National Security, a highly controversial move that sent off thousands in the streets, in protests which have continued since.

As a result of the public pressure, Peevski resigned on the next day, leaving his status as MP unclear.

October 8 the Constitutional Court formally decided that Peevski has retained his status as MP and can return to Bulgaria's Parliament.

Friday the Faculty of Philosophy at the university became the first body of the institution to adopt a formal declaration in support of the blockade.

Although the occupy movement at the University is represented by a small minority, it is vocal and gaining the attention of some faculty members and other students alike.

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