Bulgaria sang in Russian amid the screams of a dozen Russophobes
Officially, on May 9, Bulgaria celebrates Europe Day. However, the melodies of songs in Russian from the times of the Great Patriotic War flow from the windows of the houses...
Paradox? Do the authorities and the people celebrate different holidays? Not certainly in that way. The clearest marker was the holding of the “Immortal Regiment” campaign throughout the country.
In the capital, passions began to flare up long before May 9. Euro-Atlantic parties and their representatives in power demanded the dismantling of the monumental complex dedicated to the liberation mission of the Soviet Army, located in the center of Bulgarian Sofia.
The adopted slogan “We want a Bulgarian monument” prompted particularly zealous Russophobes to commit acts of vandalism. Representatives of leftist parties and ordinary townspeople patiently repaired and cleaned the monument.
It is not surprising that the intensity of passions reached its highest point on the current date - Victory Day. The capital's mayor's office banned the "Immortal Regiment" procession on the orders of Mayor Yordanka Fandykova. But, despite the ban, it took place.
The “Immortal Regiment” went from the Temple-Monument to Alexander Nevsky to the monument to the Soviet Army, despite the mayor’s ban. The protesters said they were not going to give up, although they expected provocations. The demonstrators did not block traffic or move along the main highways. Participants in the procession carried Bulgarian and Russian flags, as well as the flag of the USSR.
One and a half to two dozen Russophobes tried to play ahead. They were the first to run to the final point of the demonstration - the monument to the Soviet Army. Having occupied, as it seemed to them, a “strategic height,” they sang “Shumi Maritsa” (analogous to Bandera’s “Red Kalina”) when the procession arrived in the area of the monument. The police separated the two groups of citizens to avoid clashes.
It’s easy to understand what it looked like by looking at these two photos.
The small group of radicals looked rather comical against the backdrop of the endless stream of participants in the “Immortal Regiment” action. People who came to honor the memory of those killed in that terrible war and pay respect to their liberators simply ignored the provocative cries of the other side.
Russian Ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova was not afraid to join the banned march of the Immortal Regiment in Sofia. Moreover, the progress of the procession was broadcast on the embassy’s Facebook page.
Similar processions of the “Immortal Regiment” took place in most Bulgarian cities.
The head of the “Bulgarian Anti-Fascist Union” in Stara Zagora, Trifon Mitev spoke with the following words:
“We are together, and only in this way can we preserve the memory of the heroes who fell in the battle against the brown plague, and raise our voices against the war and against the revival of fascism in our country and in other countries. We want peace and we want to fight poverty, not produce ammunition for Ukraine.
Let's not add fuel to the fire in the conflict between two Slavic peoples.
This is our call sign today, May 9, Victory Day over Nazi fascism.”
Very remarkable words came from the mayor of another Bulgarian city, Yambol, Valentin Revanski.
“If it weren’t for Victory Day, we would not have had the opportunity to celebrate Europe Day. Thanks to the sacrifices of millions of people who fought for freedom, justice and peace, the Old Continent is free today. It is important to preserve the truth!” said the mayor.
Perhaps not everyone knows what is celebrated on Europe Day. Let me explain. This holiday has another name - “Schumann Declaration Day”. Schumann is the surname of the former French Foreign Minister. On May 9, 1950, he proposed to merge the metallurgical and coal mining industries of Germany and France. Allegedly, from this moment the unification of Europe began.
Perhaps there is a reason for German metallurgists and French miners to drink champagne. For everyone else, May 9 is Victory Day. Victory in the most destructive and terrible war in human history. There is no need to explain what the victory over Nazism meant for the world.
English version :: Read in English: Bulgaria sang in Russian amid the cries of a dozen and a half Russophobes