The Soviet Army Monument in central Sofia was fenced off on Friday. There was an increased police presence in the area with uniformed law enforcement officers surrounding the monument from all sides. The monument has long been an arena of clashes for pro- and anti-Russia groups in the Bulgarian society but the clashes escalated recently as the Sofia authorities announced plans to relocate the monument.
In a Facebook post earlier Friday, the leader of the nationalist Vazrazhdane party urged people to rally and prevent the fencing of the monument.
The Left! also vowed to prevent the fencing and dismantling of the monument.
The fencing is being carried out by an order of Sofia Governor Vyara Todeva, Traycho Traykov, the mayor of the borough where the monument is situated, told journalists.
According to Traykov, the enclosure is due to findings that the monument is dangerous for people as clabs have loosened and might fall off. A survey is pending, the borough mayor said.
In Traykov's words, Todeva is the first governor of Sofia who has taken measures. He also said that the court required of her to put the fence.
Rise Up BG leader Maya Manolova said that they are not going to move away the tents they have put in the space around the monument in a bid to prevent its dismantling. She also said that they have contested in court the fence.
The tents remained inside the fenced area.
The fence first of all has the role to protect citizens from falling slabs, Sofia Mayor Yordanka Fandakova told journalists on Friday. She commented on the issue during a public appearance in Sofia's Mladost borough. She explained that the monument has been examined and is not safe enough. Second of all, the fence also has a role related to fulfilling a decision of the Sofia City Council for dismantling the monument.
"The fact that political leaders find a very good opportunity to do their campaigning, each to mobilize their supporters through the monument, is certainly part of the campaign for the local elections," the mayor said.
/DT/
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