Police protests against the Bulgarian Legal and regulatory administration took place in front of the building of the Ministry of Interior amid the national Police day on
Sunday. Members of the police syndicate said that the Ministry of Interior is still unable to address socio-economic challenges police officers are forced to deal with.
The protest is a result of the unwillingness of the Ministry of Interior to address critical issues that have been ignored for years, said Deputy chairman of the police syndicate, Vergin Christov, in an interview for the national television “BTV”. Police officers have become a hostage of legal and normative norms hindering the social dialogue with the Ministry that prevents officers from receiving in full their rightfully earned remuneration.
Christov stressed that another crucial issue is the way the Minister of Interior receives information about the current state of police. Minister Mladenov is familiar with the police officers’ demands and if he fails to fulfill them, the protest may spread nationwide, warned Christov.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Interior canceled the traditional annual Police day celebrations. Minister Mladenov together with ruling officials and chief secretary of Interior laid down wreaths at the police monument honoring the officers lost in service.
On Sunday, the Ministry of Interior’s press-center addressed the police on the behalf of Minister Mladen Marinov:
“Dear colleagues,
It is an honor for me to celebrate with you the 141-st anniversary of the Ministry of Interior. We undertook the harsh road of establishing our authority and reinventing the national police without losing sight of our sole purpose – protecting the law and our society.
You have my deepest gratitude for your hard work, determination and responsibility that you show every day in your line of work. By serving our community, helping the people in need and providing protection in the darkest hours, you serve as the pinnacle of law and order and as a proof that our nation is a rightful member of the big European family!
I wish you an abundance of good health, much strength and determination – and to your closest ones – much patience and support.
We dedicate this 5th of July to you even without the traditional celebrations due to the extreme circumstances we are facing today. Nonetheless, I know that we all carry the spirit of the celebration in our hearts as well as our deepest respect for your conscious choice of becoming part of the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior.”
