Students from Sofia University have occupied the central building of the university in downtown Sofia. They require immediate government resignation and new election, as well as rule of law and prioritization of education.
Late on 25th of October, the declaration (full text below) was publicly read before media present. After that, the entries to the University were fully blocked and almost all activities at the building were closed. According to students, between 70 and 100 people are present inside and only students are allowed in and out.
The students’ action started two days ago by occupation on the largest lecture hall of the University. The protesters interrupted the lecture of a Constitutional court member Prof Tokushev, who signed the latest constitutional court decision on the status of Delyan Peevski - the controversial media mogul, member of Parliament and investigation officer, whose appointment on 14th of June triggered a wave of anti-government protests that have not ceased to the moment.
Besides central building, other lecture halls are also occupied in support of the main student protest. They were supported by more than a hundred professors in a special declaration.
The student protest of this week follows more than four months of anti-government and anti-mafia demonstrations against Plamen Oresharski’s government backed by the Socialists and Movements for Rights and Freedom. The fragile majority, however, depends of the ultra nationalist Ataka party for a full majority - a fact BSP and PES leader Sergey Stanishev continues to deny.
DECLARATION
From the students occupying SU “St. Kliment Ohridski” on October 25, 2013
To the Dean the University
Ladies and gentlemen, teachers and administrators at Alma mater,
Dear colleagues - graduate students and students,
Dear citizens of Bulgaria.
We are recognizing our historic responsibility to the Bulgarian citizens, which desire restoration of democracy and rule of law in the Republic.
We foresee the inevitable negative effects in the country if the current government completes it’s full mandate.
We are angered by the systemic violations of constitutional order in the country by the current government led by Plamen Oresharski.
We are convinced that the integrity and transparency of the management processes is a condition without, which there can not be real order in the country.
Our ultimate goal is Bulgaria to become a country with governance, grounded in moral values rather than personal benefits.
As students and citizens of Bulgaria we have every right to a peaceful and legal protest at the University, which is a place of values and not just lectures.
We have the support of our professors and the outraged citizens protesting for more than four months against a government, which has gone in moral collapse.
We the students of Sofia University believe in our fair will to change the Bulgarian civil society.
We, the students of University of Sofia, have introduced an open-ended and effective occupation.
We stand with the following objectives:
- 1. Immediate resignation of the current government ld by Plamen Oresharski;
- 2. As quickly as possible scheduling of new parliamentary elections;
- 3. intolerance of the public body to widespread criminal lawlessness in the highest levels of government;
- 4. Bulgaria to become a civilized rule of law;
- 5. and the promotion of justice and knowledge as a high social values.
We students
272 lecture hall,
Sofia
October 25, 2013
