Referendum on Bulgaria's Artillery Range Fails

Residents of Stara Zagora were to answer the question "Should the Zmeyovo artillery practice range be closed?". Photo by BGNES

The referendum on the future of the Zmeyovo military ground in Bulgaria failed due to low voter turnout.

Only 20% of local residents went to the polls, while in order for the referendum to be legitimate, at least 47.9% were needed, which was the turnout in the 2011 general elections.

The information campaign for the referendum started on April 26, 2013, and May 11 was the deadline to register to vote.

The artillery practice range in Zmeyovo exists since 1970 and became notorious over complaints of locals of air pollution.

Citizens of the southern Bulgarian city of Stara Zagora went to the polls Sunday. They were to answer the question "Should the Zmeyovo artillery practice range be closed?"

The local referendum was organized on the basis of a decision of the Stara Zagora municipal council, while the funding was provided from the municipal budget.

The air quality around the Zmeyovo artillery practice range has been monitored round the clock since 2008, when two automatic control stations were mounted.

According to statistics presented by caretaker Environment Minister Yulian Popov and caretaker Defense Minister Todor Tagarev, air pollution levels in Stara Zagora are much lower than in Sofia or Pernik, for instance, and the artillery practice range and the gas pollution in the city are unrelated.

Tagarev also insists Bulgaria needs the practice range.

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