Sofia University Remains under Blockade

Sofia University remains under blockade after antigovernment protests turned violent Tuesday, photo by BGNES

The "occupation" of Sofia University will remain in place at least until the end of the week, organizers say.

Unlike Monday and Tuesday, the administration and the leadership of the school and of different departments will be allowed to enter the building.

"Due to the extreme events in the capital, the crushed, beaten, and arrested students, we would like to inform you that the occupation of the main building of Sofia University remains in place. This is our duty. We have faith and strength," the protesting "Early Risers" students announced in a declaration late Tuesday evening.

They decided to allow the administration inside over pending matters such as distributing stipends and ongoing international projects.

Ivaylo Dinev, one of the organizers, confirmed before Darik radio that the decision to keep the blockade in place was triggered by police brutality and violence during the Tuesday protest. He stressed their earlier decision has been to lift the blockade.

Dinev also said students will once again go to the building of the Parliament around 10:30 am Wednesday morning. He stated the students have received tipoffs about pending provocations both at the rally and the University building.

He underscored that students oppose the violent storming of the Parliament, pushing down metal fences, throwing bottles and stones, and setting fires.

The student activist further said he understood that not everyone doing this was a provocateur, and some did it out of desperation.

Late Tuesday evening the protesting students retreated to the occupied by them building of Sofia University upon being informed that groups of provocateurs have infiltrated the protest.

Students at 15 universities across the country are have occupied campuses and prevented teaching in protest at the center-left coalition.

The first of the protests began when students at the elite Sofia University occupied Lecture Hall 272, the largest teaching room in the St. Kliment Ohridski building on 23 October.

They have been blockading the building since then, bringing classes to a halt, but decided to move the blockade to the Parliament on Tuesday.

On Sunday, thousands marched in the streets of Bulgarian capital Sofia to request Oresharski's resignation.

Protesters chose the symbolic date November 10 to show their exasperation at the lack of morality in Bulgarian politics, 24 years after the fall of the communist regime in Bulgaria.

Tuesday, on the 152nd day, the antigovernment protests turned violent.

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