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Sofia: Protest against the disposal of US military bases in Bulgaria

Peter | 17.11.2005 16:03 | Anti-militarism | Repression

More than 500 people marched through the streets of Sofia. Two days earlier two activists were brutaly beaten and arrested by the cops while they were sticking posters for the event.




On 12 November a protest against the US military bases, which are going to be situated near the villages Novo Selo, Bezmer and near the Burgas' port, took place in Sofia (Bulgaria's capitol). More than 500 people marched through the central streets of Sofia, expressing their stand against all military bases. The protest ended in front of the National Theater "Ivan Vazov". In the protest took part the anarcho-block of autonomous antiauthoritarian group "AnarchoResistance" (around 60 people). Few nationalists from BNS (Bulgarian National Union) were also there but left quickly after the demo.

On the evening of 10 November two activists were arrested and brutally beaten by the police, while they were sticking posters for the protest near the Synagogue. The cops said that Vladimir Trichkov and Stefan Andonov were sticking the posters on the Synagogue's wall (which is a complete lie!) and they resisted the arrest. Their presence in the area of the Synagogue was used by the police to paste words like "anti-Semite" and "nationalist" about them (which is also a complete lie!). From 12 November the two are on hunger strike after the refusal of medical help and meeting with their families. They are sued by the quick procedure. The Minister of Interior, Rumen Petkov, awarded in the weekend the two cops, who arrested Vladimir and Stefan, for the "perfect work" and put with that pressure on the court for convicting the two activists "guilty".

Pictures from the protest:
 http://bulgaria.indymedia.org/feature/display/5603/index.php
 http://snimka.bg/album.php?album_id=11812

After the protest on Saturday most of the people protested also in front of the police station, where Vladimir and Stefan were kept for more than 5 days without charges.
On the first court meeting on Monday around 20:00 o'clock (!) the witnesses of the defense were not even allowed to enter the court room. On the next day Vladimir and Stefan were out on 500 leva bail. The next court meeting is on 17 November.
On 19 December 1999 the bulgarian parliament accepted the disposal of US military bases, despite that most of the people are against the presence of US military forces. The US authorities even said that they aren't going to pay anything for the use of bulgarian territory.

Peter
- e-mail: peter_hell2002@yahoo.com