Far-right nationalists gather again in the Bulgarian capital to honor a general at the end of World War II known for his anti-Semitic and pro-Nazi activities.
SOFIA, Bulgaria – Far-right nationalists gathered in the Bulgarian capital on Saturday to honor a general at the end of World War II known for his anti-Semitic and pro-Nazi activities.
Facing sub-zero temperatures, hundreds of dark-clad supporters of the Bulgarian National Union group gathered in a central square where they had planned to kick off the annual Lukov Month, a torchlight procession held every February to Gen. Hristo Lukov.
The mayor of Sofia has suspended this year’s procession, allowing only the flowers to be laid at home. The police divided the participants into small groups and escorted them.
Earlier on Saturday, dozens of anti-fascist activists demonstrated against the nationalist event, chanting slogans such as “There are no Nazis on our streets.” A heavy police presence blocked any clashes between the two sides.
Neo-Nazis and extremists with similar thoughts marched for almost two decades in honor of Lukov, who supported Germany during World War II and was killed by members of a resistance movement on February 13, 1943.
The general served as war minister between 1935 and 1938 and led the pro-Nazi German Union of Bulgarian Legions from 1932 to 1943.
Contemporary nationalists deny that Lukov was an anti-Semitic fascist or that he promoted neo-fascism. They claim that the descendants of the general’s killers are afraid of the annual march.
Human rights groups, political parties and foreign embassies have condemned the event every year. Sofia’s mayor has previously banned the march, but organizers have repeatedly managed to get a court order overturning the ban.
On Saturday, supporters of the Bulgarian National Union placed a wreath and flowers in front of Lukov’s former home and held the torch lights in tribute.