Varna

Bulgaria is ready to launch direct cargo shipping lines to Russia, Transport Minister Danail Papazov has announced.

According to Papazov, the shipping lines will be successful, because carters may face difficulties passing through Ukraine on their way to Russia, Darik news reports.

Bulgaria's city of Varna could be granted up to BGN 70 M until end-2014, an MP from the ruling Socialists announced.

In Varna, which is his hometown, Borislav Gutsanov announced funds are to be allocated for the construction of a new court building and a Faculty of Pharmacy at the Medical University.

Bulgaria's Law for Investments has loopholes allowing for a project to be approved if this "must" be done.

Former Bulgarian Investment Agency chair Borislav Stefanov made these comments in Bulgarian television channel bTV's morning broadcast.

Deputy Chief Prosecutor Asya Petrova has informed that the prosecuting authority is not seeking a reinvestigation of a high-profile organized crime case codenamed 'The Killers.'

In a Sunday interview for Nova TV, Petrova explained that the prosecuting authority had lodged a protest against the acquittals stipulated in the ruling of the Varna Appellate Court.

Blagoy Ragin, Chair of the Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Association (BHRA), has rejected claims of an outflow of Ukrainian tourists from Bulgaria.

About 20 Ukrainians, residing in Bulgaria, staged a peaceful protest against Russia's invasion in Crimea, in the Black Sea city of Varna. 

The protestors were carrying Ukrainians carried the Ukrainian flag, blue and yellow balloons and signs saying “Russia is an aggressor”, reported Bulgaria's public TV channel BNT. 

Rallies in support of Russia will be held in two Bulgarian cities on Friday evening. 

Both are organised via the social network Facebook.

Bulgarian Black Sea coast hotel owners have recorded an increase of Romanian tourists 2 months before Easter.

Many Romanian tourists prefer Bulgaria's north Black Sea coast resort of Balchik. Hotels there are almost full for the holidays with price rates remaining unchanged since last summer.