BULGARIA | 1000 fascists march in Sofia

Sunday, 19 February 2012, 12:44

Around a thousand fascists joined the so-called Lukov March in Sofia on 12 February. The march, which is now staged annually, is held to honour the memory of General Hristo Lukov, a Bulgarian general and politician who led the fascist Union of Bulgarian National Legions (UBNL). A virulent antisemite and supporter of Hitler, Lukov was assassinated by Communist partisans in February 1943. The marchers also claim to commemorate Vasil Levski, Bulgaria’s undisputed national hero from the country’s struggle against the Ottoman Empire. The 12 February event was organised by the fascist Bulgarian National Union and provoked protests and criticism from a number of organizations, ranging from the European Network against Racism (ENAR) and the Bulgarian NGO HoRa ("People against Racism) to the youth organization of the Bulgarian Socialist Party. HoRa, which has accused the participants in the Lukov March of organising assaults on Roma people, LGBQT people, foreigners, and leftist activists, described the torchlit parade as shameful for Sofia, a European capital.