Protests in Sofia over dismissal of Bulgarian theatre director

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Protests in Sofia over dismissal of Bulgarian theatre director

Protests have been taking place in Sofia for the third day in the defence of the principal director of the Ivan Vazov National Theatre Alexander Morfov whose disciplinary dismissal was made public on 28 February. Before his dismissal, the theatre's PR officer Velislava Krasteva announced she was handing in her resignation.

Alexander Morfov's resignation and the resignation of Velislava Krasteva came after a scandal broke out at the National Theatre a few months ago as a result of the election of former PR officer of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms MRF. She is also a former MRF MP and accompanied the Movement's honorary chairman Ahmed Dogan as he went to cast his vote at the previous election for parliament. There was a strong reaction from some members of the theatre company to this. Velislava Krasteva's door at the National Theatre had MRF and Get out scribbled onto it and the name plate was broken off, which director Alexander Morfov took responsibility for. He later accused Krasteva of political propaganda at a press conference, National Theatre director Vasil Vasilev said that the positions of Alexander Morfov and Velislava Krasteva at the theatre had been terminated so as to preserve the theatre, but he added that Morfov's stagings will still be played. Vasilev stated that he had fought to keep the institution going and to preserve the dignity of the staff for four months.

Alexander Morfov is one of the most popular stage directors in Bulgaria, holder of numerous prestigious Bulgarian and international awards.