Several hundred people have joined the parade against what they believe is widespread Roma crime in Bulgaria on Saturday.

The gathering of the protesters took place in front of the National Palace of Culture in downtown Sofia and continued through the Vitosha boulevard, Darik radio has informed.

It was the far-right Bulgarian National Union that organized the rally. According to the Bulgarian National radio, some 1500 people attended it.

The „contra-parade'“s organizers had called for a peaceful protest, one that would exclude drunk citizens and racist slogans. No accidents have been reported during the rally.

Tensions in Bulgaria were sparked by the September 23 murder of Bulgarian youngster, Angel Petrov, 19, who was deliberately run over by a minivan, driven, according to witnesses, by one of the relatives of notorious Roam boss from Katunitsa, Kiril Rashkov AKA Tsar Kiro. The murder led to massive protests of the ethnic Bulgarians in the village, where Tsar Kiro’s mansions are located. They culminated Saturday night into the burning of Rashkov’s properties by football hooligans from Plovdiv, which is near to Katunitsa, and by football club fans from the capital Sofia and the southern city of Stara Zagora.

From Monday to Thursday night, protests followed in many major Bulgarian cities, including the capital Sofia. Nearly 350 people in total were arrested by the police after the two nights of rallies that involved what has been perceived as ethnic hatred.

Bulgarian authorities have frozen Rashkov’s assets and property while he is investigated on tax evasion charges, the revenue agency has confirmed. Interior Ministry Chief Secretary Kalin Georgiev told the morning broadcast of Nova TV channel Wednesday that Rashkov, AKA Tsar Kiro, has been arrested. On Friday the Regional Court in the town of Asenovgrad decided to keep Rashkov behind bars.

Quelle: Novonite
Stand: 01.10.2011