Plovdiv citizens protest to protect International Fair

Citizens in Plovdiv held a protest in front of the Plovdiv Municipality to demand that the International Fair remains under the city's control and is not transferred to private ownership. Organizers emphasized that the demonstration serves as a way to show the civic position regarding the legal case involving the Fair's shares.

During the protest, Veselin Kostov, chairman of ‘Bravo Plovdiv’, argued that the struggle should extend beyond mere ownership to the future use of the vast territory. He proposed transforming the complex into a ‘Scientific City Plovdiv’—a large-scale university, scientific, and technological center. This vision includes integrating universities, laboratories, and businesses to focus on fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics, medicine, and green technologies.

Supporters of the movement included publisher Manol Peykov and descendants of the city's former leadership. While Finance Minister Galeb Donev has committed to protecting the state's interest in the matter, protesters maintained that the demonstration was necessary to ensure the city's emblem and heritage are preserved.