In Bulgaria, pro-Russian parties have blocked the work of the parliament over the dismantling of a monument to the Soviet army in Sofia. This is reported by UNN with reference to Euractiv.
Details
In particular, the leader of the far-right pro-Russian party "Vazrazhdane" Kostadin Kostadinov called on his colleagues to express their disagreement with the demolition of the monument by blocking the work of the parliament.
Without a legal act, without an order, without a decision, some people armed with cutting machines are raging in the center of Sofia
Kostadinov's statement was also supported by members of the pro-Russian BSP (Bulgarian Socialist Party). The BSP and Vazrazhdane threatened to prevent the parliament from working until they received documents authorizing the demolition of the Soviet monument.
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BSP leader Kornelia Ninova said that parliamentary sessions were suspended until they received all the documents for the dismantling of the Soviet monument.
The speaker of the ruling party "Keep Changing" Kirill Petkov is openly surprised by the behavior of his colleagues, as the parliament has to make a number of crucial decisions for the country at the end of the year.
In particular, the Bulgarian parliament has to approve the state budget and the constitutional reform of the judicial system before Christmas, which is important for Bulgaria's accession to Schengen.
We cannot understand our colleagues. How can they slow down the most important payments in the country? Citizens are waiting for the adoption of this budget. Pensions and health insurance depend on it
Context
On December 12, the dismantling of the monument to the Soviet army began in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria . The official reason for the demolition is the decision of a commission that stated that due to cracks and erosion inside the 70-year-old structure, it poses a danger to the public.
The demolition of the monument sparked protests by pro-Russian parties and their supporters. Several dozen protesters gathered at the site.
The monument to the Soviet army in Sofia was erected as a thank you for the country's "liberation" from Nazism. However, in modern Bulgaria, the arrival of Soviet troops is associated rather with decades of repression and suppression of freedoms that followed.
Recall
Bulgaria is actively cooperating with the EU to limit the export of dual-use goods to Russia, as officials are convinced that they are used for military purposes. New sanctions mechanisms are being considered.
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