Anti-Russia Rally Casts Shadow on Sofia Energy Summit

Members of the Bulgarian Association for Free Speech “Anna Politkovskaya” gathered at on of the busies intersections in downtown Sofia “Orlov Most” to protest against Bulgaria's pro-Russian politics. Photo by Sofia Photo Agency

Members of the Bulgarian Association for Free Speech "Anna Politkovskaya" staged Friday a protest rally against the Sofia Energy Summit.

The demonstrators gathered at on of the busies intersections in downtown Sofia "Orlov Most" shouting and waiting signs saying "No to Bulgaria Becoming Putin Russia's Trojan Horse in Europe."

The participants in the rally declared they were against threats for Bulgaria's national sovereignty such as the signing of loans for the "Belene" Nuclear Power Plant to be repaid by an entire future generation.

"We want a cleaner country and are protesting against Bulgaria's feudatory dependency of the pro-soviet supporters. We wish to show our European Union guests that there is another society in the country with a different opinion than those in power," one of the participants is quoted as saying by the Darik radio reporter.

The demonstrators further accused Sofia's City Hall of attempts to sabotage the rally by issuing to media a false press release, indicating the event was going to be moved to Sofia's "South Park."