SOFÍA, Bulgaria (AP) — Las autoridades de Bulgaria prohibieron el sábado la realization de la march anual de las antorchas encendidas por el center de Sofía con la que honra al fallecido general que encabezó la Unión Nazi de las Legiones Nacionales Búlgaras during the Segunda World War.
Hours before the event, the country’s attorney general called on the mayor and interior minister of Sofia to “ensure the preservation of public order and the protection of public rights ahead of the Lukov march.”
The march was condemned by human rights groups, political parties and foreign embassies, who blamed the organizers for promoting racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism.
Nationalists gathered outside the prosecutor’s office to protest against the restriction measures.
For their part, dozens of anti-fascist activists staged a protest against the nationalist march and insisted that neo-Nazis be banned.
A heavy police presence has been deployed to prevent clashes between the two sides.
The march, which has taken place every year since 2003, has over the years drawn nationalist admirers from General Hristo Lukov, who supported Germany in World War II and was assassinated by an anti-fascist resistance movement.
The general served as Minister of War from 1935 to 1938 and led the pro-Nazi German Union of Bulgarian Legions from 1942 until his death in 1943.