On the eve of the 80th anniversary of the rescue of the Bulgarian Jews, Bulgaria did not allow an anti-democratic event like the Lukov March, Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev tweeted late Saturday evening.
He thanked Deputy Prosecutor General Desislava Pironova, Sofia Mayor Yordanka Fandakova, Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev and his colleagues from the Interior Ministry and the State Agency for National Security (SANS) for making that possible.
The Supreme Prosecution Office said earlier in the day that it has alerted the Interior Minister and the Sofia Mayor to take measures in order to protect public order and citizens’ rights during the planned Lukov March.
Lukov March is torchlit procession which has been taking place annually in February since 2003 to mark the anniversary of General Hristo Lukov's execution-style murder by two Communist militants. 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.
The prosecution has opened a case file after the Foreign Minister submitted a letter in which he voiced concern over the holding of the event. The prosecution has received opinions from the Interior Ministry, the State Agency for National Security and non-governmental organizations in connection with possible risks of violating public order.
The Prosecutor General, the Interior Ministry, a number of diplomatic missions and political organizations have raised objections against the procession.
In 2020 Sofia Mayor Yordanka Fandakova banned the procession and her order was upheld by the Supreme Administrative Court. In 2021 and 2022 the Lukov March was suspended by an order of Mayor Fandakova due to failure to receive permission from the Sofia Town Hall.
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