Clashes took place in Sofia on Thursday between the Bulgarian police and supporters of the ultra-nationalist party “Vozrazhdane” (“Revival”), who protested against the policies of the pro-Western government, demanding the resignation of the cabinet and the closure of NATO military bases, Reuters and Agerpres reported.

Protest of Bulgarian nationalists and RussophilesPhoto: Georgi Paleykov/NurPhoto / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia

Hundreds of protesters against Bulgaria’s support for Ukraine in its war with Russia gathered outside the parliament building, waving Bulgarian and Russian national flags, blowing whistles and calling for early elections in a country that has already held five elections in the past two years.

Many chanted “Resign” as fully equipped special forces guarded government buildings, including the Ministry of Defense, where some protesters threw eggs.

Last week, Bulgaria, which supplied weapons to Ukraine, lifted the ban on Ukrainian grain.

“Bulgarians do not want to participate in the war between Russia and Ukraine, we want to be a neutral country,” said 60-year-old businesswoman Neli Tiulekova. She added that Bulgarians are opposed to sending weapons to Ukraine, a measure “that further incites the war.”

Bulgarian nationalists chanted “NATO Out!”

Some protesters carried placards reading “America bases out! Bulgaria is a zone of peace,” referring to the opening of a new military base on the territory of this NATO member.

“The latest instructions from Bulgaria’s masters in the US – Bulgaria has built a new military base,” said Kostadin Kostadinov, leader of Revival, the crowd chanting “NATO out!”

Protesters ended the action in front of the Soviet Army monument and clashed with the police, who tried to prevent them from entering the monument, which was surrounded by scaffolding for security reasons. The government decided to cancel the monument.

Neli Balabanska, 51, an electronics engineer, said she hoped the protests would force the government to leave. Separately on Thursday, Bulgaria expelled a Russian citizen and two Belarusians and banned them from entering Bulgaria for the next five years by order of the State Agency for National Security (DANS), local media reported.

Among the 3 was the head of the Russian Orthodox Church in Sofia.

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