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Southeast Europe
February 23, 2018 www.intellinews.com I Page 18
banned by the Bulgarian government.
Hailing Lukov and chanting against the commu- nists, but without using any offensive words, the participants walked through the streets of down- town Sofia in an orderly fashion, closely watched by police. The aim of the organisers was to imi- tate a military event and even the commands to participants were issued in military style. A drum gave rhythm to the procession, which was led by a young woman carrying a portrait of Lukov and organisers dressed in military-style clothing.
Participants carried flags and torches, provoking shock and even fear among citizens. However, no provocative actions or words were allowed and the organisers were monitoring the march very strictly to prevent any such action.
The majority of participants were young men supporting neo-Nazi ideas and organisations, but they also included children as young as 10, as well as elderly people who remembered the previous marches.
Although the organisers tried hard to persuade the public they are not anti-Semites and are toler- ant, one of them, Galina Lacheva, told reporters that the march gathered people supporting neo- Nazi ideologies and claimed it took place with the blessing of top politicians.
The majority of Bulgarians did not support the event on February 17 and many strongly opposed it, fearing that it will harm the country’s image of an open, democratic and liberal society. Numbers were relatively low compared to the estimated 45,000-60,000 participants that joined a fascist march in Warsaw in November.
But the event still puts another dark spot on Bulgaria’s EU Council chairmanship that started in January and has been marred by a number of scandals, including a racist outburst by United Patriots leader Valeri Simeonov against a German MEP.
The government, Bulgaria’s biggest political par- ties and several Jewish organisations had called in advance for the march to be suspended, while an international petition against it gathered nearly 180,000 signatures.
The World Jewish Congress also condemned the march, calling it a disgrace. “We cannot stand by in silence as neo-Nazis and anti-Semites from across Europe march through the streets of Sofia or any other city,” it said.
Earlier on February 17, a protest against the Lu- kov March was held in Sofia, with the theme “No Nazis on our Streets!” The protest was organised by the Bulgarian branch of the antifa movement.