Bulgarian students join anti-government protests, occupy university buildings

In recent days, Bulgaria’s capital Sofia has witnessed a series of student protests and the occupation of university buildings that have injected new life into a persistent anti-government movement that is now into its 138th day.

The latest developments started when, on Wednesday October 23, students occupied “Lecture Hall 272”, the largest teaching room in Sofia University’s St. Kliment Ohridski building.

In a statement read to the public on October 25, the occupying students explained: “…angered by the systemic violations of constitutional order in the country by the current government led by Plamen Oresharski(…)[our] ultimate goal is for Bulgaria to become a country with governance, grounded in moral values rather than personal benefits.”