On May 9, the world initiative “The Immortal Regiment” will be held for the second time in Bulgaria. This year, 37 Bulgarian cities will participate, and their residents will march with portraits of their relatives who participated in the anti-fascist struggle. Thus, Bulgaria becomes part of the world movement, in which 40 countries participate. Last year, when Bulgarians joined the initiative for the first time, there were 16 cities.
This year, more than 40,000 people are expected to participate – double the number of last year, when 20,000 people participated across the country. The presence of President Radev, to whom an official invitation has been extended, is also expected. The initiative is happening thanks to 61 coordinators from all over the country, representatives of various movements and organizations.
In Sofia, the procession started at nine o’clock with the laying of wreaths in front of the monument to the Unknown Warrior. After that, the column goes to the monument of the Soviet Army, where at 10:00 a.m. the ambassador of the Russian Federation, Anatoly Makarov, will deliver a welcome speech. This is followed by a concert organized by the “Bulgaria-Russia” coordination council.
In Bulgaria, the movement was initiated by the “Immortal Regiment” public foundation in 2016. It is related to the operation of a special Bulgarian website “The Immortal Regiment” (and the processions on May 9 of heirs of Bulgarian participants in the anti-fascist resistance. In just one year, the website “The Immortal Regiment” has collected over 150 personal stories of men and women, who took part in the struggle against fascism from 1923 to 1945. The stories, biographical data and photos are provided by their heirs. also be published on the site.
The “Immortal Regiment” will celebrate the Victory Day over fascism in Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas, Stara Zagora, Ruse, Sandanski, Lom, Karnobat, Montana, Samokov, Pleven, Shumen, Kardjali, Targovishte, Vidin, Botevgrad, Razgrad, Dimitrovgrad , Yambol, Sliven, Pernik, Nessebar, Blagoevgrad, Haskovo, Petrich, Vratsa, Svilengrad, Silistra, Pavlikeni, Pomorie, Veliko Tarnovo, Dupnitsa, Dobrich, Gabrovo, Byala, Teteven.
Here is the program of the march by cities (the program is working and may include additional initiatives or new cities):
Sofia – May 9, 9:00 a.m., Monument to the Unknown Warrior
Plovdiv – May 9, 11:00 a.m., from the Boris Hristov House of Culture
Varna – May 9, 15:00, Anton Novak square
Burgas – May 9, 10:00 a.m., from the Cyril and Methodius Church
Stara Zagora – May 9, 6:00 p.m., from the monument to the Soviet warrior
Ruse – May 9, 11:00 a.m., from the Alyosha monument
Sandanski – May 9, 11:00 a.m., the monument to Gen. Todorov (Interhotel Sandanski)
Lom – May 9, 10:30 a.m., Military Club next to Central Square
Karnobat – May 9, 10:30 a.m., City Square
Montana – May 9, 9:00 a.m., Alley at Traurnia Park
Samokov – May 8, 12:00 p.m., City Square in front of the House of the People’s Army
Pleven – May 9, 5:00 p.m., Mausoleum (Vazrazhdane Square)
Shumen – May 9, 5:00 p.m., Russian Monument
Kardzhali – May 9, 10:30 a.m., Vasil Levski’s monument
Targovishte – May 9, 5:30 p.m.
Vidin – 10:00 a.m., City Park next to the Municipality
Botevgrad – May 9, 11:00 a.m.
Razgrad – May 9, 5:30 p.m., “Vazrazhdane” Square
Dimitrovgrad – May 9, 6:20 p.m., from the Municipality
Yambol – May 9, 12:00 p.m., from the monument to Bulgarian and Soviet soldiers
Sliven – May 9, 17:00, From Bratska mogila
Pernik – May 9, 5:30 p.m., from the park to Bratska mogila
Nessebar – May 9, 4:00 p.m., Chitalishteto
Blagoevgrad – May 9, 5:30 p.m., from the Youth Center
Haskovo – May 9, 5:30 p.m., from the Victory monument
Petrich – May 9, 7:00 p.m., Wall of Memory – The Immortal Colonel
Vratsa – May 9, 5:30 p.m., Wall of Memory–The Immortal Regiment
Svilengrad – May 9, 11:00 a.m., along Central Street – “Bulgaria” Blvd.
Silistra – May 9, 10:00 a.m., Monuments of Silistra, Dulovo and Ishirkovo
Pavlikeni – May 9, 6:00 p.m., City Center
Pomorie – May 9, 11:00 a.m., on Knyaz Boris Street
Veliko Tarnovo – May 9, 12:00 p.m., Bratska Mogila – Wall of Memory – The Immortal Regiment
Dupnitsa – May 9, 4 p.m., Central Square
Dobrich – May 9, 11:00 a.m., City Center
Gabrovo – May 9, 2:00 p.m., the Anti-Fascist Monument, Wall of Memory – The Immortal Regiment
Byala – May 9, 11.00 a.m., the monument to Soviet soldiers
Teteven – May 9, 11:00 a.m.
Registration of participating cities for 2017 continues.
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The “Immortal Regiment” covers over 40 countries around the world. The initiative is a civil movement whose goal is to collect the personal photos and stories of people who participated in the anti-fascist struggle, as well as the memories of their descendants. The action was held for the first time in 2012 in the Russian city of Tomsk. In 2013, the “Immortal Regiment” campaign was held in 120 cities and villages in Russia, and in 2014 – in 500 cities in seven countries around the world. In 2015, the Immortal Regiment marched in 36 countries. Half a million people come out in Moscow, led by the President of Russia Vladimir Putin, who carries the portrait of his father – Vladimir Spiridonovich Putin (a fighter from the 330th Rifle Regiment of the 86th Division of the Red Army, wounded during the defense of the Neva in the battle for Leningrad). The initiative is currently taking place in countries such as Great Britain, France, Russia, Austria, USA, Armenia, Germany, Israel, Ireland, Iceland, Qatar, Korea, Lebanon, Sweden, Costa Rica, Poland, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Montenegro, Mongolia, Norway, Transnistria, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, USA, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Estonia, Malta, Australia, Switzerland, Abkhazia.
For contacts:
The Immortal Regiment Foundation
Pavel Ivanov – Chairman
0888 26 99 86
http://bezsmartniatpolk.com
[email protected]
The text of the press release can be downloaded in a doc-file from here: “For the second time, Bulgaria joins the world movement “The Immortal Regiment”.
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