The mayor of Botevgrad prohibits the holding of the rally of "DPS-New Beginning" with an order

After publishing information about the organized event on the territory of Botevgrad, a wave of dissatisfaction, disagreement and open indignation arose in social networks and local electronic media over the choice of Botevgrad as the venue for a meeting in support of the government, organized specifically by the political party „Movement for rights and freedoms“, the mayor states in his reasons.

"The indignation of the residents of Botevgrad is mainly caused by the justified assumption that due to the lack of an active local structure of the organizing political party, as well as the lack of serious support in the Botevgrad municipality, objectified by the results of numerous national, European and local elections, supporters from other populated areas will participate in the event, but the mass presence and messages of the protesters, sent from the territory of Botevgrad, will suggest that an opinion is being expressed and authentic support is being shown from the local community. The feeling is of a replacement of representation, expressed in actions and expressions of will of persons foreign to the municipality, implemented from the territory of Botevgrad. Residents do not recognize the ideas, policies and, above all, the methods for imposing these policies of the political party “Movement for Rights and Freedoms“ and therefore openly do not want to create a purposeful, but completely wrong impression that the actions of this party are perceived, shared and recognized by the local community. Undoubtedly, such impressions would be created when holding the mass event organized by the MRF in Botevgrad," the mayor added.

According to Gavalyugov, in comments under various publications on social networks, as well as on local information sites, hundreds of residents of the city, mainly through their profiles, and some anonymously, in addition to open disagreement and indignation at holding the political event on the territory of Botevgrad, openly call for organizing a mass counter-protest near the place and during the event organized by the MRF-NN. "This would undoubtedly lead to a serious risk of provocations, escalation of tension and even physical clashes between protesters and counter-protesters, he added.

"Taking into account all the potential risks arising from the above-described prerequisites, it will be necessary to ensure a serious police presence in the area where the protest will be held in support of the government, which is impossible to ensure with the available employees of the Botevgrad regional police department. And considering the dynamic situation throughout the country and the fact that similar events are being organized simultaneously in many other places in Bulgaria, the possibilities for sending additional external forces from other structures of the Ministry of Internal Affairs are severely limited. Analyzing all these circumstances and carefully familiarizing myself with the opinion and attitude of a sufficiently large and representative part of the population of Botevgrad municipality, mainly expressed on social networks and through other mass media, as well as informing myself about the moods of my fellow citizens in telephone conversations and in direct communication, I have formed a firm conviction that holding a rally in Botevgrad, organized by the political party “Movement for Rights and Freedoms“ on 09.12.2025, would lead to a serious escalation of tension with a high risk of clashes between local residents and protesters brought from other settlements, and in general would create a serious and immediate danger of violating public order in the city of Botevgrad", says Mayor Ivan Gavalyugov and adds: "Taking into account all these risks and real dangers and in the name of protecting public order and the security of the citizens of Botevgrad, I take advantage of the right granted to me by the Law on Assemblies, Rallies and Demonstrations and issue this prohibitory order for the holding of the political event declared by the political party “Movement for Rights and Freedoms“ scheduled for December 9 in the city park of Botevgrad".