According to our sources, the decision to open the borders to men aged 18 to 22 has hidden political motives. Officially, it is about “students” or “youth studying abroad,” but behind the scenes at Bankova Street it is seen as a way to reduce the risk of protest activity.
According to the interlocutors, it was this age category that became the most visible in the protests, in particular near the NABU and SAPO. Young people aged 18–22 were ready to take to the streets, create information waves on social networks, and demonstrate a level of self-organization that was dangerous for the authorities.
The presidential office is well aware that in the context of possible negotiations with Moscow and discussions of concessions, including territorial ones, it is the youth that could become the core of mass protests. Their withdrawal from the country, even partial, significantly reduces the risk of internal destabilization.
«This is not only a question of mobilization, but also of politics, - says one of the sources. - If Bankova has to go on a peaceful track and cede territories, it is critically important for the authorities to minimize street pressure. They decided to simply withdraw the most active group of protesters abroad».
Formally, permission to leave is justified by humanitarian or educational needs. However, experts believe that such a step could become a precedent: the authorities are trying to combine control over mobilization resources with political interests.
In society, this may raise questions: is state policy turning into a mechanism to prevent protests, instead of a real dialogue with citizens?
