DRINKING WITH MUTRI
Vassil Vassilev, head of the regional police department in the town of Vratsa (northern Bulgaria), and Krassimir Dimov, head of the regional police department in Primorsko on the Black Sea, will be dismissed from office on the grounds of damaging Interior Ministry’s image, Interior Minister Mihail Mikov was quoted as saying by Bulgarian Focus news agency on August 13. “You can’t drink all night with mutri (a term commonly used in Bulgaria in relation to underworld criminals) and pretend to be working for the ministry. You can’t be at a crime scene and leave it soon after without taking the measures that you otherwise expect from any ordinary policeman,” Mikov said.

REFUGEE STATS
Just 1443 people out of the 16 841 who had sought asylum in Bulgaria since 1993 have been recognised as refugees, The UN Refugee Agency in Bulgaria said. Another 4003, of which 846 are underage, received humanitarian asylum. People who requested asylum in Bulgaria came from 84 countries, mainly from Afghanistan, Iraq, Armenia and the former Yugoslavia, as well as people without citizenship.

AN ICY REWARD
The city hall of the town of Pazardjik, southern Bulgaria, was sentenced to pay 800 leva to a university student who broke his clavicle last January, Bulgarian news agency BTA said. The student filed the claim against the city hall after its failure to clean the snow from the city's streets, the Regional Court said. The young man broke his clavicle after slipping on an icy lane in the city centre. The court ruled that the municipality had to pay a compensation of 800 leva to the claimant and cover the costs of the proceedings.

SIGN UP
Three of the main right-wing parties in opposition – the Citizens for the European Development of Bulgaria (GERB), the Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria and the Unions of Democratic Forces – decided to join efforts in bringing down the government. The parties will set up a joint panel that will coordinate their actions. On September 6 they will start collecting signatures against the Government.

SUITABLE ENVIRONMENT
Sofia city hall will spend 400 000 leva this summer in creating a suitable environment for children with physical disabilities in five kindergartens and eight schools. So far, 53 schools have been appropriately equipped.