Bulgarian Protesters Vow to Block Interim Govt’s ‘U-turn’

A protester waves an EU and a Bulgarian flag during an anti-government protest in front of the Council of Ministers in Sofia, 29 July 2020. Photo: EPA-EFE/VASSIL DONEV

The demonstrations started on August 5, when it was revealed that the interim government is taking steps to block the nearly completed gas interconnector with Greece, expected to diversify the country's gas resources and draw a final line in the divorce between Bulgaria and Russia's gas giant Gazprom.

Interim PM Gulub Donev has denied this is the strategy; he insists Bulgaria is only searching for more options on energy.

Meanwhile, this interim government is rapidly replacing various people in municipalities, state institutions and deputy ministerial positions after assuming power on August 1. 

The protesters claim Radev and Donev are risking Bulgaria's pro-West perspectives, which was consolidated by ousted PM Kiril Petkov.

"We should not let the interim government make a U-turn in the civilisational development of Bulgaria," Vera Staevska, an activist for green politics and a journalist, told BIRN. 

The movement goes by the name #GaZWithMe/#ГАZWithMe - a complex wordplay, which derives from the Russian army's "Z" symbol, referring to Radev's alleged dependence on the Kremlin and the 2013-2014 protest wave, often called #DanceWithMe.

"We expect attendance to grow and have a real effect. A fresh citizens' energy has been unlocked but it hasn't peaked; in August, many people are away for their summer leave, so a bigger outcome might be expected in September," Staevska said. 

This is just the latest in a long line of protests in Bulgaria. The same crowd, largely pro-EU, pro-Western and centered in Sofia, filled in the streets in 2013-2014.