Security Message for U.S. Citizens: Pride Parade and Counterdemonstrations on Sat, June 10, 2017

U.S. Embassy Sofia informs U.S. citizens that on Saturday June 10, 2017 the Pride Parade in Sofia will be held from 18:00 to 22:00. The group will gather at the Monument of the Soviet Army. A counter demonstration has also been scheduled in the same location, and the two groups will begin their events at approximately the same time. Given the proximity of time and place of these two events, the embassy cautions that violent confrontations could occur.

Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence. Avoid areas where demonstrations are taking place and exercise caution when in the vicinity of any large gatherings, protests, or demonstrations.

For further information:

See the State Department’s travel (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en.html) website for the Worldwide Caution (https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings/worldwide-caution.html) , Travel Warnings (https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/bulgaria.html) , Travel Alerts, and Bulgaria Country Specific Information (https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/bulgaria.html) .

Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) (https://step.state.gov/step/) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.

Contact the U.S. Embassy in Bulgaria, located at 16, Kozyak St., Sofia 1408, at (+359 2) 937-5100. If you are a U.S. citizen in need of urgent assistance call (+359 2) 937-5101.

Call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

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