Arrested Bulgarians to Return from Belgrade Thursday

The seven Bulgarians who were arrested in Belgrade on Monday evening over their alleged plans to protest against the human rights violations in China, would return on Thursday, the spokesperson of Bulgaria's Foreign Ministry Betina Zhoteva told the BNT public broadcaster.

The followers of the Falun Dafa spiritual movement, outlawed in China, have travelled to Belgrade to meet with other adherents of the movement in the Serbian capital, but were arrested by the police upon arrival over suspicions of "posing threat to the national security".

According to Zhoteva, the seven Bulgarians were not planning to stage protests during the economic meeting between China and the countries from Central and Eastern Europe, taking place in Belgrade Dec. 16-19. In her words they would be released after the end of the summit and will immediately return to Bulgaria.

Zhoteva told BNT that as EU citizens, the Bulgarians have the full right to protest. So do the two Finns, a Slovak and two Russians who were also arrested by the Serbian police.