Anti-vaccination protesters try to storm the Bulgarian parliament

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SOFIA, Bulgaria – Protesters against COVID-19 restrictions in Bulgaria on Wednesday clashed with police as they tried to storm Parliament in the capital Sofia.

A heavy police presence prevented protesters from entering the building and some were detained. Several people, including police, were injured in the clash. In the end, the protesters were pushed back and the police surrounded the building.

Violence broke out at a rally against mask and vaccine missions organized by a nationalist group vehemently opposed to the Bulgarian government’s anti-epidemic measures.

“The purpose of the protest is to remove restrictive measures and, in particular, first of all, unconstitutional green certificates,” said Kostadin Kostadinov, leader of the Vazrazhdane party, before the rally.

The nationalist group, which holds 13 seats in the 240-seat chamber of Congress, has won the support of opponents of coronavirus restrictions.

Nearly 1,000 protesters, who waved Fatherland flags and sang patriotic songs, remained in the square in front of the National Assembly, saying they planned to stay there until the mandatory abolition of face masks and the status quo. Green vaccination is met.

Bulgaria, which is facing a new surge in infections, is the least vaccinated country in the 27-member European Union, with only a third of the population fully vaccinated against COVID. -19.