14
Jan 2025
18:08 UTC
Bulgaria Tactical: Anti-government protest slated outside Supreme Judicial Council building in Sofia at 08:00 (local time) on January 16; maintain heightened vigilance
Current Situation
- Activists associated with the nonprofit group Bulgaria United with One Goal (BOETS) are slated to demonstrate outside the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) building in Sofia from 08:00 (local time) on January 16.
- The protest is being called to denounce the election of the new Prosecutor General Borislov Safarov.
Source: BOEC
Assessments & Forecast
- Based on social media estimates, combined with the mobilizational capacity of the organizers, the protest is likely to attract a turnout in the low to mid hundreds.
- Given heightened sentiments around the protest issue, the demonstration carries a latent potential for localized unrest in the form of clashes between the protesters and the police.
- However, wider unrest is not expected. As such, a bolstered security presence is liable to be deployed in the vicinity of the SJC building as a precautionary measure.
- Disruptions to pedestrian and vehicular traffic can be anticipated in the vicinity of the protest location during the morning hours.
Recommendations
- Those operating or residing in Sofia on January 16 are advised to maintain heightened vigilance near the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) building due to the latent potential for unrest.
- Allot for traffic-related disruptions near the SJC due to the slated protest during the morning hours.
COUNTRY RISK LEVEL
Low
AFFECTED AREA
Sofia, Bulgaria
INCIDENT RISK LEVEL
Medium
STRENGTH OF SOURCE
Confirmed
Current Situation
- Activists associated with the nonprofit group Bulgaria United with One Goal (BOETS) are slated to demonstrate outside the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) building in Sofia from 08:00 (local time) on January 16.
- The protest is being called to denounce the election of the new Prosecutor General Borislov Safarov.
Source: BOEC
Assessments & Forecast
- Based on social media estimates, combined with the mobilizational capacity of the organizers, the protest is likely to attract a turnout in the low to mid hundreds.
- Given heightened sentiments around the protest issue, the demonstration carries a latent potential for localized unrest in the form of clashes between the protesters and the police.
- However, wider unrest is not expected. As such, a bolstered security presence is liable to be deployed in the vicinity of the SJC building as a precautionary measure.
- Disruptions to pedestrian and vehicular traffic can be anticipated in the vicinity of the protest location during the morning hours.
Recommendations
- Those operating or residing in Sofia on January 16 are advised to maintain heightened vigilance near the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) building due to the latent potential for unrest.
- Allot for traffic-related disruptions near the SJC due to the slated protest during the morning hours.
COUNTRY RISK LEVEL
Low
AFFECTED AREA
Sofia, Bulgaria
INCIDENT RISK LEVEL
Medium
STRENGTH OF SOURCE
Confirmed
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Related Reports
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ProtestBulgaria Tactical: Annual Lukov march, associated counterprotest to take place in Sofia on February 22; maintain heightened vigilance
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ProtestBulgaria Tactical: Far-right Revival party to hold protest against introduction of EUR at BNB in Sofia at 12:00 (local time) on February 22; maintain heightened vigilance
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ProtestBulgaria & Slovenia Tactical: Anti-Serbian government protests slated to be held in Sofia, Ljubljana on February 8-9; maintain heightened vigilance
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