Bulgarian Farmers in Standoff With Authorities Over Sheep Death
VELLINGRAD, Bulgaria – November 30, 2024 – A tense standoff unfolded today outside farms in southeastern Bulgaria as local residents rallied to protect sheep against government-ordered euthanasia. The dispute centers on conflicting laboratory results regarding a possible outbreak of anthrax, a disease fatal to livestock and humans.
The controversy began after two sheep from a local farm tested positive for anthrax. Bulgarian authorities, citing public health concerns, ordered the entire flock be euthanized. However, the farm owner, Dobromir Nikolov, contests the findings.
"I had the same labs in Greece conduct tests on my sheep, and those results are negative," Nikolov asserted. "Only one sample was inconclusive, and Bulgarian authorities haven’t even contacted me about it."
Adding fuel to the fire, Nikolov claims that the Bulgarian authorities’ samples are questionable.
"These specimens were sealed in packages and uploaded by the same lab which conducted the tests," Nikolov explained, raising further doubt about the accuracy of the initial findings.
The farmers have garnered significant support. Over 300 people joined the protest this morning, forming a human barricade around the farms to prevent officials from accessing the sheep.
This latest incident highlights the delicate balance between public health concerns and the livelihoods of farmers, a dilemma often magnified in rural communities. The standoff in Velingrad continues, leaving the fate of the sheep hanging in the balance and raising questions about the reliability of testing procedures.
[Image: Sheep grazing in a field]
(Photo courtesy: Novini.bg)
[Image: Protesters gathered outside farms in Velingrad]
(Photo courtesy: Novini.bg)
2024-11-30 10:43:00
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