LUNAR Festival 2024: Illuminating Sofia's Nightscape Once Again
Sofia's Lunar Festival of Lights is back, illuminating the city with more than 20 captivating light installations across its most iconic landmarks.
Interview of Novinite.com and Novinite.bg with Professor Ivan Ilchev, Ph.D. in history, president of Sofia University, the oldest and biggest higher education facility in Bulgaria.
In recent days, Bulgaria’s capital Sofia has witnessed a series of student protests and the occupation of university buildings that have injected new life into a persistent anti-government movement.
We talked with Prof. Ilchev as students still occupy “Lecture Hall 272”, the largest teaching room in Sofia University’s St. Kliment Ohridski building.
Professor Ilchev, could you give us an update about the situation at Sofia University? Is it still under anti-governmental siege?
Everything is normal at Sofia University.
But do teachers have access to the building? Is it possible to have lectures and preserve the educational process normal?
No, at the moment this is not possible. Teachers do not have access to the building, only people from the administration staff are allowed to enter. In other words the university staff is looking after its everyday tasks.
Do you expect that the students will decide to put an end to the occupation of the university soon?
I have no idea, I am no Vanga (Bulgaria's most famous clairvoyant).
Do you plan to hold meetings with the protestors, who have occupied the building of the university?
We do that every day, we discuss the situation with them every single day.
What do you think of occupation as a way to show disapproval and protest?
I did my best to convince the protestors occupation of the building is a very bad idea. The declaration of the Academic Council also says that the students should seek other ways of protest, because right now the university is the only institution that suffers losses from this protest, not those against whom it is directed.
Do you sense a political element in the occupation?
Yes, of course.
Politics and protests against the current political order in Bulgaria entered the university. How do you feel about that?
Politics should be kept out of universities. Unfortunately in real life things happen differently and not always as we would like them to happen.
How about meeting students who are against the occupation? May be they can help solve the crisis?
We have tried that too. It is impossible to convince someone, who is determined not to listen to a word you are saying.
We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!
A year after India overtook China to become the world's most populous country, its rapid upward economic trajectory and increasing diplomatic, scientific and military weight make it an emerging superpower of ever-growing importance to the United States an
According to the world-renowned PR expert, this is the key to better promoting Bulgaria in front of the world
The Greek General Secretary for Tourism Mrs. Olympia Anastasopoulou was in Sofia last week, where she participated in the 68th Meeting of the UNWTO Commission for Europe
I joined the Paysafe family on October 1st, 2018 and for me, this was the beginning of an incredible journey
An interview with Irish member of the European Parliament Clare Daly
For six seconds, Marina Ovsyannikova held up a poster on „Vremya”, the main news program on Russian state television, and became an icon for freedom of speech and the press overnight
UN Happiness Report: Bulgaria's Astonishing Leap in Rankings
Bulgaria: 3 Regions With Lowest Life Expectancy - EU Report 2022