site.btaDeclarations Pour in against Lukov March
ESD 18:25:31 11-02-2022
DT1821ES.126
126 POLITICS - LUKOV MARCH - DECLARATIONS
Declarations Pour in
against
Lukov March
Sofia, February 11 (BTA) - Plans for a traditional commemoration of controversial WWII Bulgarian general and Defence Minister Hirsto Lukov triggered a wave of protest declarations from the government and political parties. The event - a torchlit procession which has been taking place annually in February since 2003, is organized by the Bulgarian National Union (BNU).
Lukov (1888-1943) was a popular military commander but was also known for his close links to the Third Reich and his activity as leader of the far-right Union of Bulgarian National Legions. Lukov March commemorates the anniversary of General Hristo Lukov's execution-style murder by two Communist militants.
The Foreign Ministry expressed full sympathy with the efforts of various institutions to prevent the so-called Lukov March in 2022, the Ministry said in a position. "The streets of the Bulgarian capital must remain free of manifestations that are incompatible with the values, traditions and interests of the Bulgarian people. Anti-Semitism, racism, intolerance, discrimination and hatred have no place in our country," the Foreign Ministry said. According to them, events such as the so-called Lukov March "harm the image of Bulgaria, presenting it undeservedly in a negative light and distracting attention from the achievements of our country and the traditionally tolerant nature of our society," the statement said.
Parliament heard declarations from the parliamentary groups of Continue the Change (CC), BSP for Bulgaria, GERB and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) against the Lukov March plans. CC said that "Bulgaria's democratic present and future precludes such manifestations of xenophobia and hate speech. Provocations to violence, propaganda of racism, anti-Semitism, homophobia, sexism - have no place in Bulgarian society," the statement said.
According to GERB, "worship of people like General Lukov is not a tribute to the glorious history of Bulgaria, but on the contrary - a return to some of the darkest years of it, desecration of the feat of the entire Bulgarian people, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, prominent politicians, public figures and intellectuals who confronted the most terrible evil and prevented their brothers and sisters from being doomed to certain death. " GERB calls on all competent institutions to strongly oppose and not allow Sofia to become the arena of such a shameful event again, which leaves an undeserved disgraceful mark on the Bulgarian people.
The BSP said that "they have long been tired of raising this issue again and again every year, every year again and again to ask the big questions of Bulgarian democracy and every year in some strange way this procession is allowed and every year these dark forces march on the streets to Sofia''. BSP stressed the need to strongly oppose this.
The MRF said that they had been condemning Lukov march for 30 years. "However, we have been alone for 30 years, and we are alone in the counter-protest against Lukov March, unfortunately." According to them, the Ministry of Interior has absolutely all the resources to stop Lukov March: "Let's see if they will do it".
In their announcement for Lukov March, BNU recalls that the court has lifted the mayor's ban from last year and that the march can be held in the planned format.
The event will take place on Saturday afternoon. An anti-fascist march was planned earlier in the day. DT,MY,LN/DT
/DT/
DT1821ES.126
126 POLITICS - LUKOV MARCH - DECLARATIONS
Declarations Pour in
against
Lukov March
Sofia, February 11 (BTA) - Plans for a traditional commemoration of controversial WWII Bulgarian general and Defence Minister Hirsto Lukov triggered a wave of protest declarations from the government and political parties. The event - a torchlit procession which has been taking place annually in February since 2003, is organized by the Bulgarian National Union (BNU).
Lukov (1888-1943) was a popular military commander but was also known for his close links to the Third Reich and his activity as leader of the far-right Union of Bulgarian National Legions. Lukov March commemorates the anniversary of General Hristo Lukov's execution-style murder by two Communist militants.
The Foreign Ministry expressed full sympathy with the efforts of various institutions to prevent the so-called Lukov March in 2022, the Ministry said in a position. "The streets of the Bulgarian capital must remain free of manifestations that are incompatible with the values, traditions and interests of the Bulgarian people. Anti-Semitism, racism, intolerance, discrimination and hatred have no place in our country," the Foreign Ministry said. According to them, events such as the so-called Lukov March "harm the image of Bulgaria, presenting it undeservedly in a negative light and distracting attention from the achievements of our country and the traditionally tolerant nature of our society," the statement said.
Parliament heard declarations from the parliamentary groups of Continue the Change (CC), BSP for Bulgaria, GERB and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) against the Lukov March plans. CC said that "Bulgaria's democratic present and future precludes such manifestations of xenophobia and hate speech. Provocations to violence, propaganda of racism, anti-Semitism, homophobia, sexism - have no place in Bulgarian society," the statement said.
According to GERB, "worship of people like General Lukov is not a tribute to the glorious history of Bulgaria, but on the contrary - a return to some of the darkest years of it, desecration of the feat of the entire Bulgarian people, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, prominent politicians, public figures and intellectuals who confronted the most terrible evil and prevented their brothers and sisters from being doomed to certain death. " GERB calls on all competent institutions to strongly oppose and not allow Sofia to become the arena of such a shameful event again, which leaves an undeserved disgraceful mark on the Bulgarian people.
The BSP said that "they have long been tired of raising this issue again and again every year, every year again and again to ask the big questions of Bulgarian democracy and every year in some strange way this procession is allowed and every year these dark forces march on the streets to Sofia''. BSP stressed the need to strongly oppose this.
The MRF said that they had been condemning Lukov march for 30 years. "However, we have been alone for 30 years, and we are alone in the counter-protest against Lukov March, unfortunately." According to them, the Ministry of Interior has absolutely all the resources to stop Lukov March: "Let's see if they will do it".
In their announcement for Lukov March, BNU recalls that the court has lifted the mayor's ban from last year and that the march can be held in the planned format.
The event will take place on Saturday afternoon. An anti-fascist march was planned earlier in the day. DT,MY,LN/DT
/DT/
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