“What occurred in the Arena Armeec Sports Hall is not only a problem but disgrace and should not repeat,” said Tomislav Donchev, Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister for EU Funds and Economic Policies, speaking for Nova TV on Friday.

“I have been watching television over the past days no matter what that costs me and I have seen a highly interesting phenomenon. Various categories of people present their views and it looks like we try to blame one another. No one says they are guilty,” Donchev stated.

According to him, what happened is due to election legislation but is also a result of wrong decisions made in August and bad organisation in the capital Sofia.

Referring to the reason why members of the municipal electoral commission were not allowed to leave the Arena Armeec building, the government member stated: “It is heavily ironic when democracy comes into conflict with civil rights. There is no arguing about that.”

Donchev recalled the government had made systematic attempts reach a solution on the day after the elections, urging and even requesting the people are allowed to go.

“Someone should have apologised to them,” the Deputy Prime Minister added.

He apologised to the citizens for their having been locked.