The Democratic Bulgaria representatives in the Sofia Municipal Council called on the capital city's Mayor Yordanka Fandakova to ban an Immortal Regiment Parade in Sofia on May 9.
Participants in this annual event march carrying pictures of relatives and/or family friends who fought in the anti-fascist resistance and against Nazi Germany during WW II.
Councillor Simeon Stavrev recalled that Russia added Bulgaria to its Unfriendly Countries List on March 7, 2022. He quoted the Parade’s organizers as saying on their website that the only flags that can be displayed during the procession are those of Bulgaria, Russia, the USSR and the Victory flag.
Another Democratic Bulgaria councillor, Boyko Dimitrov, pointed out that despite his group’s appeal to Fandakova, the 2022 parade took place. "The Sofia Mayor allowed hammer and sickle banners, KGB and Z symbols, Russian flags and portraits of the murderers Putin and Ramzan Kadyrov to be paraded in central Sofia," Dimitrov said, calling on the Mayor "to prevent terrorist demonstrations in our city."
May 9 processions displaying pro-Putin signs have been banned in most East European countries, most recently in Latvia. In 2023 the Immortal Regiment Parade has been cancelled even in a number of Russian cities and regions for security reasons.
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