2 800 Interior Ministry officials would be involved in securing Russian president Vladimir Putin's safety during his visit to Bulgaria on January 17 and 18, Interior Minister Roumen Petkov told a news conference on January 13 as reported by mediapool.bg.

All Sofia police leaves would be broken off as of January 14, Sofia police director Roumen Stoyanov said. However, police officers sent to Souhodol would not be involved in protecting the Russian delegation.

Two security areas with restricted access were planned to be created in Sofia. On the first day of Putin's visit, traffic around the National Palace of Culture (NDK) would be restricted, while on the second day this would happen in the area between the Parliament, the Presidency and the Council of Ministers.

Security Police director Georgi Zlatkov explained that the area between Patriarh Evtimii, Vitosha, Pencho Slaveikov, Bulgaria and Fridtjof Nansen boulevards would be closed from 7am to 8.30pm on January 17. However, traffic on the boulevards themselves would not be stopped, but parking on the side of NDK's garden would be restricted, mediapool.bg reported. 

The second security area would include Vassil Levski, Vitosha, Knyaginya Maria Louiza, Dondoukov and Vassil Levski boulevards and Gourko and Alabin streets. The restrictive measures in this area would be introduced from 6am to 6.30pm on January 18.

Car and pedestrian traffic in these two areas would be highly restricted, mediapool.bg said. Only people living in the areas would be let through if they provide ID documents. People working in the areas would be let through as well but only if their names were present in the lists that employers have to give to the police in advance.

The Russian delegation's escorts' passing through Sofia would be accompanied by no more than 20 minutes of stopping all traffic in one direction. From January 16 noon onwards all cars parked in the NDK, Parliament, Presidency and Council of Ministers areas would be removed.

On January 15 Sofia Municipality would issue an order to specify the exact hours and areas where security measures would be introduced, Sofia deputy mayor for transport Velizar Stoilov announced on January 13.

Interior Minister Roumen Petkov called upon all citizens that have no urgent business in the security areas on January 17 and 18 to not pass through them, mediapool.bg reported. He also advised to use public transportation during Putin's visit.

The Interior Ministry said it was advisable that all car and passenger traffic be avoided on January 18 around the Sofia Airport, National Museum of History and National Museum of Military History.