Supporters of the pro-Russian Renaissance party vandalized the EU building in the capital of Bulgaria during a protest on Sunday against the military aid provided to Ukraine to counter the Russian invasion, reports Politico.eu. The protesters called on their government to stop aid to Kyiv, they say Radio Free Europe.
During a demonstration against aid to Ukraine, protesters threw red paint past the European Commission’s office in Sofia, which also houses the European Parliament’s liaison office, where one person could be seen waving a Russian flag.
Protesters can be heard booing near the building.
The damage drew criticism from European Parliament President Roberta Metzola, who said the building had been targeted by “vandals unhappy with our stance in support of Ukraine.”
“We will clean up. Our support for Ukraine will become stronger. Our voice condemning the Russian invasion will become stronger,” Metzola said.
“We condemn the violence and acts of vandalism,” a spokesman for the European Commission said on Monday.
Bulgaria’s foreign ministry “categorically condemned” the vandalism, saying it was “incompatible” with “modern Bulgaria, as well as with the democratic values that our country embodies.”
The nationalist Renaissance party, which is pro-Russian and anti-NATO and the EU, came third in the last national election in April, with 14.4 percent of the vote — up several points from the previous election in October.
The Renaissance party, which last December voted against sending military aid to Ukraine, previously announced that it would stage an “anti-war demonstration” and stop by the EU office in Sofia to “protest against Brussels’ interference in our internal affairs.” “
The demonstration on May 21 was organized by several non-governmental organizations and pro-Kremlin individuals. Among the participants, which could be up to 1,000, were members of the anti-European Renaissance party, as well as parliamentarians, reports Radio Free Europe Bulgaria.
It was the sixth demonstration in as many weeks, but the first time it ended in vandalism.
Bulgaria has deep historical ties with Russia, it is sometimes called a “Trojan horse” in the EU and NATO because of its pro-Moscow orientation, notes Radio Europa Liberă.
Source: Hot News
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