Protests To 'Welcome' Sergey Lavrov to Sofia

Two protests against the visit of Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will be held on Monday in Sofia. 

They are organised via Facebook by the Protest Network organisation under the slogan: “Put an end to Bulgaria's energy dependence on Russia. Do not betray Bulgaria! Lavrov, go home!” and will take place in front of the Foreign Ministry shortly after noon on Monday and in front of the Council of Ministers building in the afternoon. 

“On July 7, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrives in Bulgaria to discuss the South Stream pipeline and to sign unclear agreements with the outgoing Oresharski government. Let us defend the European future and sovereignty of our country,” reads the Protest Network manifesto. “This morally failed government does not have the right to take any decisions in the name of our people. Let us stop our energy dependence on Russia. Let us put an end to Russia's meddling in Bulgaria's internal affairs. Let us show Putin and his puppet Lavrov that we do not want them and the road of our country leads to Europe.”

Lavrov will arrive on Monday and will have series of meetings – with his Bulgarian counterpart Kristian Vigenin, outgoing Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski, Speaker of Parliament Mihail Mikov and President Rosen Plevneliev. 

It is expected that the main topic of the conversations will be the South Stream gas pipeline project, which was recently put on hold by Oresharski, until all concerns of the EU are addressed and all errors are removed.