FOREIGNER ATTACKS
Joe Paul Freeman, the 21-year old Australian who stabbed a Bulgarian to death on December 28, remained behind bars after a decision by Sofia City Court on December 31.
In the early hours of December 28 Freeman attacked a group of young Bulgarians in central Sofia. Witnesses said that he stabbed 20-year old Andrei Monov, son of a famous psychologist Hristo Monov, in the back and injured a friend of Monov’s. Monov died shortly after the attack. According to Monov’s friends, Freeman appeared from nowhere and attacked them without any reason.
On December 31 Freeman told the court he had been acting as a good Samaritan. He said he saw a group of youngsters pushing a Roma to the ground and decided to help. Freeman’s friend, who lives in Samokov, told him not to get involved as the group was a gang of football hooligans, however, Freeman did not follow his advice. He told the court he wanted to help and that he could not understand what happened to the Roma. He told the youths who were beating the Roma to stop, he even cursed them in English.
Freeman said he had drunk only five or six beers and a tequila shot, which according to him was not much. He claimed he was carrying a knife for protection as he had been attacked several times before in Bulgaria. This was Freeman’s fourth visit to Bulgaria.

FEWER ROAD VICTIMS
Fewer people died in road accidents in 2007 than the year before, road police statistics showed. In 2007, there were 1004 fatalities on Bulgarian roads compared with 1038 in 2006. More than half of the traffic fatalities were the result of speeding, mostly by young drivers under the age of 25.
There were also slightly fewer people injured on the roads, 9797 compared with 10 161 in 2006.
The most frequent traffic violations included not giving right of way, exceeding speed limits and alcohol abuse the statistics showed. Fines had been given to drivers who had used drugs.

VIGNETTE ABOLISHED
The annual vignette tax for motor vehicles in Bulgaria will be abolished as of January 1 2009, Assen Gagaouzov Regional Development and Public Works Minister said on December 30.  A different type of taxation will be introduced although it is still unclear what exactly this will be. At present all vehicles must have a vignette sticker to use the country’s roads and highways. 

VISA COSTS
The price to issue a visa to foreigners would be set at 60 euro, the Cabinet decided on December 27. The application and processing of a long-term residency permit with a validity of up to six months would cost 100 euro, while a residency permit for up to one year would cost 200 euro. The price was to be paid either at the Interior Ministry in Bulgaria or at Bulgarian embassies and consuls abroad. In Bulgaria, the costs would be payable in leva, while abroad they would have to be paid in euro and where possible, US dollars or local currency. The prices have been updated to reflect the administrative and other costs of the services, the media statement said.