site.btaJustice Minister Georgiev Attends Opening of Monument of General Vladimir Vazov

General Vladimir Vazov (1868 -1945) was not only a great warrior, he is also a builder of modern Bulgaria, said Minister of Justice Georgi Georgiev in his speech at the opening of the general's monument in Sofia.

Georgiev added that as Mayor of Sofia, General Vazov was of exceptional importance in giving the capital its European appearance, from public transport and its modernisation to the construction of the urban and cultural institutions known today, he initiated the construction of the Rila water pipeline and put an end to political purges in the municipality.

The Minister recalled the communist regime's attitude towards Gen. Vladimir Vazov and his internment in Ribaritsa, where he was left to die in extreme poverty, and his grave was desecrated.

Georgiev described General Vladimir Vazov as an exceptional Bulgarian, a military leader recognized by all the leading Great Powers and foreign armies for his achievements, loved by the Bulgarian army, and called "our general" by Bulgarian soldiers because he never hid and was always on the front line. Minister Georgiev recalled that in 1936 in London, on the occasion of the celebration of the end of World War I, in front of 3,000 military personnel and 200 flags, the commander-in-chief of the parade, Field Marshall Lord Milne  ordered, "Lower the flags! General Vladimir Vazov, the victor at Doiran, is passing by."

Minister Georgiev congratulated everyone on Unification Day and pointed out that we have long been living in a united Bulgaria. "Being united does not mean that we have no differences of opinion, that we do not argue, that we have no contradictions. On the contrary, being united today also means that in disputes, political and social battles and debates, we must bear in mind that defending our own views cannot and should not be at the expense of the dignity of others and respect for them. Unity is the work of the united Bulgarian people, the government, and the opposition," he said.

Georgiev also noted that in a long-united Bulgaria, the Bulgarian people should not appear more divided than ever, often because of those who have succumbed to populism, pursuing their political egos and ignoring the national ideal.

On Unification Day, a monument to General Vladimir Vazov was unveiled in Sofia. The event was attended by Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev, Minister of Justice Georgi Georgiev, municipal councilors, the executive director of Ciela Norma Veselin Todorov, as well as citizens. The monument is located on Vladimir Vazov Boulevard, at the corner of Panayot Hitov Street. It  was created by sculptor Boris Borisov, and the project was implemented on the initiative and with the financial support of Ciela Norma. Its installation was approved by a decision of Sofia City hall.