In Bulgaria's capital, protesters stormed the EU representation office.

According to the Bulgarian service of Radio Free Europe, at least six individuals have been detained, as reported by the country's Ministry of Interior. Approximately 10 police officers sustained injuries. This information is still preliminary.

The unrest occurred during a protest against the Bulgarian government's plans to transition from the national currency, the lev, to the euro. Participants in the anti-government demonstration chanted, "No to the euro!" and "Resignation!" They vandalized the EU mission building with red paint, eggs, firecrackers, and Molotov cocktails before being pushed back by the police.

The government has already condemned the attack. In a statement from the cabinet, it emphasized that such actions are "unacceptable and contrary to the principles of the rule of law," as reported by Reuters.

The protest on Saturday began outside the Central Bank of Bulgaria, which is a member of the EU. There, attendees set fire to effigies of European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde and other officials. Some waved flags of Bulgaria, the now-defunct USSR, and East Germany, while others carried placards reading "We do not want the euro."

Kostadin Kostadinov, the leader of the "Revival" party, stated that the protest was organized to "defend freedom." "We do not want Bulgaria's financial independence to be destroyed," he emphasized.

The new Bulgarian government, which was confirmed last month following early elections in October—its seventh in four years—has reaffirmed its commitment to joining the eurozone next year. However, Bulgarian society remains divided on this issue. Many fear that the introduction of the euro will lead to a sharp increase in prices, similar to what occurred in Croatia in 2023, notes Reuters.