Rally in Bulgaria’s capital in solidarity with Ukraine marks third anniversary of Russia’s invasion
A rally entitled “Peace for Europe and the World Through Ukraine’s Victory!” was held in Bulgaria’s capital city Sofia on February 24 to mark the third anniversary of Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Ukrainian ambassador Olesya Ilashchuk and We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria MP Ivailo Mirchev were among several speakers at the start of the rally, outside the Presidency building.
References to President Roumen Radev and his stance on the war, where he has opposed the supplying of military materiel to Ukraine, were met with loud boos against him and chants for his resignation.
Participants in the rally, for which there was a turnout exceeding 1000 people, proceeded to the House of Europe, which a few days earlier had been targeted for vandalism by supporters of pro-Kremlin party Vuzrazhdane, in an incident which saw a violent confrontation with police. At the House of Europe, still showing traces of vandalism, there was a minute of silence for the victims of Russia’s war of aggression.
En route to the House of Europe, participants chanted “This is not Moscow” and a chant with an insulting epithet for Russian ruler Vladimir Putin.
On the night of February 24, the building of the Cabinet office was illuminated in the colours of the Bulgarian and Ukrainian flags. Earlier in the day, there were messages of solidarity with Ukraine from Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Rossen Zhelyazkov and the Foreign Ministry.
Bulgarian National Radio reported on February 24 that events marking the third anniversary of the full-scale invasion also were held by Ukrainian communities and refugees in Bulgaria’s cities of Varna and Plovdiv.
Ukrainian ambassador Olesya Ilashchuk
(Photos: Clive Leviev-Sawyer)
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