The Ministry of Internal Affairs sent the Prime Minister a report regarding the provision of public order before, during and after the completion of the requested On November 7, a demonstration in front of the "Ivan Vazov" National Theater, the Ministry of Energy reports on its website.
The document states that the actions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to ensure public order are in connection with notifications received from the director of the theater and the Minister of Culture about the great audience interest in the premiere of a play and the holding of a mass cultural event from 17 :30 to 7:30 p.m., approved by the Metropolitan Municipality and initiated by the "Father's Hearth" National Movement.
In the Sofia District Prosecutor's Office, pre-trial proceedings for hooliganism have been initiated, and the investigation is conducted in the SDVR, and two persons complicit in the act have been identified. Numerous witnesses have been questioned, experts have been appointed to identify other persons who participated in the protests, the security department reports.
"To ensure public order, the necessary organization was created by the Metropolitan Directorate of Internal Affairs, and a plan-arrangement of forces and means was drawn up. The committed 70 police officers are located in the area of the City Garden and the space around the theater as early as 4:30 p.m. Another 20 employees are ready to be included in the security measure, as well as forces from the regional administrations on the territory of the capital. By 5:30 p.m., about 150 people are present and the event proceeds normally, without verbal or physical aggression and visible anti-social behavior. Subsequently, public figures, known for political activity and nationalist rhetoric, joined, accompanied by a group of persons", explained the Ministry of the Interior.
"Around 18:00 the director comes out in front of the theater building and addresses the gathered crowd. His actions were spontaneous and not coordinated with the law enforcement authorities. "Police officers immediately intervened, surrounded the director of the theater and built a cordon in order to protect the lives and health of those present," the report states.
"Regardless of the additional discontent that arose after the decision of the theater management to cancel the tickets of some of the spectators and to suspend the admission regime, the law enforcement authorities did not allow the tension to escalate. Until the situation gradually normalizes at 9:00 p.m., an increased police presence is provided in the area, after which periodic patrols are carried out," the ministry said.
In conclusion, the report states that as a result of the actions and mobilization of the bodies of the SDVR, serious consequences of the use of pyrotechnic articles were avoided, and state, municipal and private property was protected. An organization has also been created for the normal conduct of theater performances in the following days.