Prisoners in various Bulgarian cities have declared huger strike to demand new amnesty law and better living conditions in Bulgarian prisons.

To support protesters in Vratsa, 72 prisoners from Varna started hunger strike, Focus news agency reported.

All 848 people serving their sentence in the Pazardzhik prison signed a declaration to support the protests in other Bulgarian cities.

Lovech prisoners also expressed support but decided to refrain from protesting and to request an open dialogue with authorities.

Justice Minister Georgi Petkanov said that an amnesty law has already been drafted. The law took into consideration prisoner demands, Petkanov said. The final version of the draft law will be available on Friday January 19, Focus reported.

Prison officials said that some of the demands were not in their authority to carry out. Amnesty and pardon could be guaranteed only through a law, they said.