Sofia Pride LGBT Parade Postponed over Security Concerns

The Bulgarian capital’s LGBT pride parade scheduled for Saturday has been canceled by authorities due to fears that extremists may mar the event.

The parade has been canceled on the insistence of Sofia municipality and the Interior Ministry, the organizers say.

Since peaceful protests against the appointment of a controversial media mogul as national security head began last Friday, small extremist groups have staged counter-rallies, attempting to provoke protesters and start clashes with each other.

Local authorities fear that the extremists may attack the Sofia Pride parade.

Sofia Pride organizer Mihail Vuchkov has told local media that the event is likely to take place in September.

The Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, a human rights NGO, has criticized the cancelation of Sofia Pride, saying that Sofia municipal authorities have succumbed to calls made by the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.

The NGO has also pointed out that local authorities have failed to ban homophobic hate rallies that are to be staged on Saturday.

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