WORLD
Bulgarian police protests enter fourth day
Baku, November 7, AZERTAC
Bulgarian police protested for a fourth day in a row in central Sofia on Friday against government plans to trim social benefits for Interior Ministry staff, according to the Bulgarian BNT TV channel.
Police protests were also held in other Bulgarian cities, including Varna, Shumen, Ruse and Vidin.
Some 150 police blocked traffic at Orlov Most square, an intersection of two of the busiest boulevards in Sofia. Public transport has been diverted to other routes.
Protesters have said that 3,000 to 5,000 police officers from across the country are expected to gather in Sofia on Sunday to press their demands.
The government has already backtracked on its initial plan, saying the planned cuts in social benefits will only apply to newly appointed staff. More specifically, the cuts affect the one-off compensation paid upon retirement, additional payments pegged to the number of years in service as well as the duration of paid annual leave.