Students Occupy Bulgaria's Theater Academy in Anti-Govt Protest

The National Academy of Theater and Film Arts in Sofia. Photo by BGNES

Protesting students are expected to fully occupy Bulgaria’s National Academy of Theater and Film Arts (NATFA) by the end of Tuesday.

As of Wednesday, only students will be allowed to enter the three building of the Academy in central Sofia.

NATFA has become the latest Bulgarian higher education institution to be blocked by students as a sign of protest against the government’s alleged ties with murky oligarchs.

Several hundred students have blocked access to Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" since last week, demanding the dissolution of Parliament and calling for new elections.

On Monday and Tuesday, several other universities in Sofia, and across the country, initiated their own occupations in support of the movement.

The protests were triggered by a number of controversial appointments, most notably that of shady media magnate Delyan Peevski as head of the powerful State Agency for National Security. The appointment was revoked in June, but nationwide rallies have continued ever since, demanding the government’s resignation over concerns about corruption.

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