Shortly after the protest of "Vazrazhdane" turned into a storming of the EC building in Sofia, the Minister of the Interior promised uncompromisingness and the application of the full severity of the law in order to preserve civil peace.
Specially for "In the World and in Our Country" Daniel Mitov commented that today's action by "Vazrazhdane" pursues entirely political goals.
Ivo Nikodimov, BNT: Mr. Mitov, what is the balance of the clashes between the protesters from "Vazrazhdane" and the police, who took place in front of the European Commission representation building in Sofia?
Daniel Mitov, Minister of the Interior: First of all, we must say that the right to protest is in no way a right to anarchy and is not a right to vandalism. There were no incidents in front of the BNB. There is no way for the police by law to stop or for the Interior Ministry authorities to stop the protesters, their further movement, but a cordon was provided, security was provided, and the Interior Ministry authorities prevented an invasion of the European Commission building at the cost of injured police officers.
- How many police officers were injured?
- We have established 10 so far. 6 people have been detained by the provocateurs and the people who started the vandalism, whether they were a signal, an impulse to start it. Of these, two people have immunity. One, the most active, participating in the beginning of the provocation, was also with a covered face. It has been established that from now on, all those who participated in the riots will suffer consequences, considering that there are recordings of what happened in front of the European Commission building. The Ministry of Interior and the Bulgarian state will no longer allow such protests to escalate into violence, vandalism and anarchy.
- Who are the two persons with immunity?
- One MP and one mayoral candidate.
- Who would have a covered face?
- The MP.
- Under what circumstances was an MP detained, since both persons have immunity?
- There is no way that the Ministry of Interior employees know who is an MP and who is not. When they detained him, they had already established themselves and he was released, as was the mayoral candidate in question.
- That is. immediately after their identity was established and that they had immunity, they were released, right?
- That's right, but that doesn't mean that there will be no consequences for their actions.
- There are currently 4 detainees, are others being sought?
- Others are being sought, they are currently being identified from the camera recordings. There will certainly be more. It has been ordered that all participants in the unregulated actions and vandalism be removed from anonymity and that legal action be taken against them accordingly.
- Has all this been reported to the prosecutor's office yet? Because they have to say whether there is a crime and evidence?
- That's right. As soon as these events began, I convened the operational headquarters, together with the Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Mr. Rashkov, and we ordered inspections and identification of the persons who participated in the vandalism. The Deputy District Prosecutor also participated in this meeting.
- Is this situation being used to pursue political goals in your opinion?
- This situation is entirely pursuing political goals, but pursuing political goals through illegitimate means is unacceptable.