Israel Thanks Bulgarian Authorities for Cancelling Neo-Nazi March

Jerusalem, 27 February, 2023 (TPS) -- Jerusalem, 27 February, 2023 (TPS) – SOFIA, 26.02.2023 12:16 (BTA)
The Embassy of Israel in Bulgaria expressed its appreciation to Bulgarian authorities for cancelling an annual neo-Nazi march in Sofia on Sunday.

An Israeli statement said the cancellation of the Lukov March was of particular importance this year as Bulgaria marks 80 years since the rescue of its Jews during World War II.

“The cancellation of the Lukov March is indeed an expression of the strong, continuous and sustainable Bulgarian efforts to fight anti-Semitism, xenophobia, intolerance and hate speech,” the embassy’s statement said. “Tonight, once again, it became clear that the fight against these evil phenomena is really a top priority for Bulgaria. The actions of the Bulgarian authorities will undoubtedly reverberate far beyond the borders of the country.”

The Lukov March is a torchlit procession which has been taking place annually in February since 2003 to mark the anniversary of General Hristo Lukov’s execution-style murder by two Communists. Lukov, a popular military commander, was also known for his close links to the Third Reich and his leadership of the fascist pro-Nazi Union of Bulgarian National Legions.

Other Bulgarian institutions objected to the march, including the Prosecutor General, the Foreign Ministry, diplomatic representations in the country, and other political figures.