Satirical protest: Yes Bulgaria and DSB Youth ‘donate’ Moskvich to Defence Minister

In a satirical protest stunt on July 29, members of opposition Yes Bulgaria’s and Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria’s youth wings “donated” a Soviet-era Moskvich to Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov, reacting to his ministry’s interest in buying old MiG-29 fighter jets from Poland and Hungary.

The stunt was a reference to a Facebook post by Yes Bulgaria co-leader and Democratic Bulgaria MP Ivailo Mirchev, who said that the government logic in looking to buy MiG-29s is like the last owner of a Moskvich going around scrap yards looking for spare parts.

In front of the Defence Ministry building in Sofia, they parked an old Moskvich, “the symbol of Soviet industrial power and prosperity in the 60s and 70s of the last century,” a media statement said.

“This is a gift for the Minister of Defence Dimitar Stoyanov, since last week we all realised that he is a prominent socialist nostalgic and as such it is only right that he has at least one Moskvich in his garage. We wanted to give him a MiG-29 as a gift, but he found the last remaining units in Poland and now wants to buy them with our taxes,” Yes Bulgaria Youth’s Todor Petrov said.

The youth “gave” Stoyanov the retro car, comparing it to the old Soviet fighters, and insist that he accept it, but not buy the MiGs, but ensure security for the Bulgarian skies today – without wasting taxpayers’ money. 

A gift card addressed to Stoyanov said: “You have no right to such a deal! You have no right to buy dilapidated Soviet equipment from the scrap yard! As a Bulgarian officer and minister of a Nato country, you have no right!”.

(Photos: Provided)