Bulgaria’s Euro Debate: Economist Calls for Addressing Legitimate Public Fears
Economist Georgi Stoev has launched a personal awareness campaign on social media to address concerns about the euro introduction in Bulgaria
The life of the 52-year-old Bulgarian man, who set himself ablaze in downtown Sofia in mid-March, is out of danger, according to medics from the emergency Pirogov hospital.
52-year-old blacksmith Dimitar Dimitrov set himself of fire in front of the Presidential building in Sofia. Security guards extinguished the flames and he was taken to hospital with 25% burns.
The doctors have performed Tuesday surgery on Dimitrov's deepest burns. He is now able to feed himself and move on his own.
Six people set themselves on fire in Bulgaria in the course of one month and four of them passed away.
Todor Yovchev, 41, died on March 22, after setting himself on fire in northeastern Bulgaria, and telling doctors he was unemployed and poured gasoline on himself because of despair.
53-year-old Ventsislav Vasilev, who set himself on fire in Radnevo on February 26, having explained he has long lived in great poverty, passed away on March 10.
On March 3, Plamen Goranov, 36, died in Varna, after having set himself on fire on February 20, as an extreme act of political protest. Goranov, who protested against the corrupt authorities in the Black Sea city, became a symbol of the nationwide rallies, with media describing him as "the Bulgarian Jan Palach."
On February 19, 26-year-old Traian Marechkov set himself on fire and died soon after in Veliko Tarnovo, having explained he is too despaired to live on.
On March 18, a miner from the western town of Bobovdol also set himself on fire.
Simeon Simeonov, 59, poured gasoline on his body before the very eyes of his son. Before the desperate act he had called his wife telling her he felt useless for not being able to help his family. Simeon is in Sofia's emergency "Pirogov" hospital with 30% burns on his body. He is in critical condition and his live is in danger.
Also in mid-March, police in the second largest city of Plovdiv found the charred body of a woman in a local park. The main lead is that she was killed first and then set on fire, but suicide has not been ruled out.
In addition to self-immolation, a suicide wave seems to have invaded Bulgaria with daily reports about people hanging themselves, jumping for bridges and high-story buildings, and throwing themselves under trains, among others.
The incidents followed weeks of massive protests against poverty and corruption in the Balkan country.
On March 12, President Rosen Plevneliev installed a caretaker Cabinet after last month's resignation of the center-right GERB government that was triggered by the massive protests.
On May 16, on the initiative of the Minister of Education and Science Krasimir Valchev, a special Headquarters was established at the Ministry of Education and Science to address transport challenges in Sofia
A recent UNICEF report places Bulgaria among the countries with the highest proportion of functionally illiterate children
For the second consecutive year, Sofia Municipality has successfully adhered to European and national standards for air quality concerning fine particulate matter
A yellow code for strong winds has been issued for 17 regions in Bulgaria as the weather takes a turn over the weekend
The ongoing transport strike in Sofia has left the capital without ground public transport for three consecutive days
Following recent wage-related protests in public transport and media sectors, museum and art gallery employees in Bulgaria are now preparing to take action
Google Street View Cars Return to Bulgaria for Major Mapping Update
Housing Prices Soar in Bulgaria’s Major Cities as Demand and Supply Strain Increase