Immortal Regiment to march in Sofia despite criticism

The procession of the Immortal Regiment will take place in the Bulgarian capital Sofia today on Europe Day despite having received broad criticism in Europe after Russia invaded Ukraine in February last year.

To commemorate the end of World War II, Bulgaria has a tradition of people partaking in a march while carrying portraits of relatives who fought against the Nazis on 9 May, as per the Russian tradition.

No notification about the upcoming event was received, nor was it agreed upon, the Municipality told EURACTIV Bulgaria’s partner Sega.

However, the Immortal Regiment Foundation’s Chairman Pavel Ivanov said it will go ahead, and there are no plans to cancel.

According to Ivanov, the Metropolitan Municipality cannot prohibit the event since the regime for holding such events is based on a notification and does not require a permit – though the mayor can prohibit the event if it risks public order.

But for the second year in a row, Sofia will be one of the few cities in the world where, despite the war in Ukraine, a procession of the Immortal Regiment will take place. Even Russia has cancelled this year’s event, citing security reasons.

“The only flags allowed during the event are the flags of Bulgaria, Russia, Victory and the USSR. The use of other slogans is recommended as long as they are thematically related to the Victory Day and the Immortal Regiment,” the organisers write on a dedicated website.

Last year there were calls from right-wing forces in the Metropolitan Municipality not to allow the procession, but it took place anyway. The municipal councillors from the pro-European coalition Democratic Bulgaria in Sofia have now called again on Mayor Yordanka Fandakova to ban it.

“Despite our appeal to you last year, this shameful festival occurred. You allowed hammer and sickle flags, KGB and Z symbols, Russian flags, and portraits of the murderers Putin and Ramzan Kadyrov to manifest in the centre of Sofia. This year, the situation is about to be repeated, given that even the Russians have given up the processions on their territory“, the councillors wrote to the mayor.

(Krassen Nikolov | EURACTIV.bg)