Thousands of Bulgarians Brave Snow to Honor Liberation Day

The foggy Shipka National Monument on Liberation Day 2011. Photo by Kazanlak Info / DarikNews.bg

Thousands of Bulgaria braved snow, cold and fog to pay homage to the Shipka National Memorial on March 3, Liberation Day.

The Shipka peak in the central Stara Planina mountain was site to some of the most fierce and pivotal battles in the Russo-Turkish war 1877-8, which lead to the liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman Empire.

Thursday some 3,000 Bulgarians traveled to Shipka by bus and with cars, in -10 degrees C and thick fog to commemorate the thousands of Russian, Romanian, Finnish soldiers and Bulgarian voluneers who fell for Bulgaria's freedom.

Among officials present were Bulgaria's Minister for EU funds Tomislav Donchev, as well as representatives of the Russian and Ukrainian embassies to Bulgaria.

"Short historical memory means short and unclear historic future," stated minister Donchev, adding that "Bulgaria's liberty today is threatened by poor judgment, idleness and apathy."

Official as well as private citizens laid flowers and wreaths at the Shipka monument. The commemoration was closed with a traditional Bulgarian dance.

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