Lukovsky march

In 1935-1938, General Hristo Lukov was Minister of War of Bulgaria, in 1932-1938 he headed the Union of Bulgarian National Legions . In the last years of his life, he was the leader of the Bulgarian far-right forces, an active ally of the Third Reich , a spokesman for the Nazi tendency. Killed by communist militants February 13, 1943 .

Even in the days of Bulgaria , elements of the legacy-oriented legions and those who worshiped Lukov existed in Bulgarian society (although such sentiments were harshly suppressed). To an even greater degree, this trend has been preserved in the Bulgarian anti-communist emigration. After 1989 , political organizations emerged in Bulgaria, positioning themselves as successors to the legion movement.

Hristo Lukov was a firm nationalist. The Union of Bulgarian National Legions is an extremely nationalistic organization. Look carefully at the ideology of the legionaries - they are anti-Semites and supporters of the Third Reich. On the other hand, they love everything Bulgarian ... This is the "Bulgarian third generation", people like Ivan Dochev ... In addition, the tragic death of a general. Hristo Lukov is a victim of the Communists. Imagine a possible interpretation since 1989 - the communists were on the other side of the barricades, their actions were condemned, and now General Lukov again emerged as a “patriot”.
Nikolai Poppetrov , Bulgarian historian ^[1]

By the mid-2000s, they were sufficiently strengthened and consolidated to hold regular mass actions. Most of all, this was facilitated by the spread of xenophobia, interethnic tension with the Gypsy community ^[2] , protest against forced political correctness , national populism , anti-communism as a rejection of the ruling elite, originating from the nomenclature of Bulgaria. Hristo Lukov in this context is perceived as the personification of the Bulgarian military tradition and patriotism , killed by the enemies of the nation.

The organizers of the Lukovsky march are the following structures

• VMRO - Bulgarian National Movement

• Bulgarian Radical National Party ( BNRP )

• Bulgarian National Union ( BNS )

• Revived Union of the Bulgarian National Legions

• "National Resistance"

• Union of repressed in Bulgaria after September 9, 1944

• Organization "Loyalty"

• Association "Development Cooperation"

• Commonwealth of Bulgarian football fans

• Fan Club " Beroe "

They are also adjacent

• Bulgarian Democratic Forum ( BDF )

• Bulgarian National Front ( BNF )

• School of Reserve Officers - Patriotic Army of Citizens

• Bulgarian groups Blood and honor

All of these organizations stand on the positions of ultra-right nationalism. Most of them are hostile to non-Slavic national minorities and non-Christian denominations. Strongly reject political correctness and tolerance . They are also sharply hostile to the political elite established in power after 1989, as coming from the State Security Committee , the BKP administration and the NRB economic department.

The Lukovsky march is held in Sofia in the days dedicated to February 13 - the date of the death of Hristo Lukov. It is a mournful torch procession. The beginning is usually the Orthodox church service in memory of the victims of communism. Next, participants march to the Unknown Soldier Memorial, where speeches are made. The action ends with a rally on Trakia Street at No. 1 - the place where Lukov died, where a memorial plaque was installed by the decision of the municipality. A mourning march is performed, the anthem of Bulgaria , candles are lit, a minute of silence is held.

The first Lukovsky march took place on February 13, 2003 - on the 60th anniversary of the murder of Hristo Lukov. Wreaths to the place of death were laid by veterans of the legions. In 2005 , the granddaughter of General Lukov Lind headed the march. The number of participants did not exceed 300 people.

In 2006 , the School of Reserve Officers joined the event. The speech was made by Nikola Rukhchev - a former colonel who served under the command of Lukov. Representatives of foreign ultra-rightists, including German national democrats and Spanish phalangists, participated. More than 500 people participated in the march 2007 .

In 2008, the Lukovsky march took place on February 9 . The event began in the Cathedral of Light week , the site of the communist terrorist attack of 1925 . For the first time, a military band of the 9th Armored Brigade participated in the march.

In 2009, ultra - left activists painted paint on the plaque and walls of the onion house. In response, the nationalists carried out their action - numerous Bulgarian flags were hung out. Among foreign guests for the first time were representatives of Palestinian organizations.

In February 2010, measures against vandalism were taken in advance - security patrols were put up. Up to 600 people took part in the march. Attempts at vandalism were also noted on the eve of the Lukovsky march on February 12, 2011 .

The most resonant Lukovsky march took place on February 18, 2012 . The 139th anniversary of the execution of Vasil Levski was also celebrated on this day. More than a thousand people participated. Slogans “For the sake of Bulgaria - freedom or death!”, “Communists - on trial!”, “ Macedonia - Bulgarian land!” Were appealed. Right-nationalistic politicians Simeon Kostadinov (BNRP), Zvezdomir Andronov (BNS), Peter Neshev (Legions, Repressed Union) spoke . In his speech, Kostadinov was called upon to continue the struggle of General Lukov for "Bulgaria is nationally strong and socially just."

In 2013, the number of Lukovsky march, according to the organizers, reached 2 thousand.

The holding of Lukovsky march on February 15, 2014 was difficult. For the first time since 2003, the municipal authorities of Sofia, under pressure from left-liberal and international public, refused to coordinate the event ^[3] . Many participants were detained by the police. However, the march and rally on Trakia Street took place ^[4] . Dissatisfaction in this regard was expressed by the Foreign Ministry of the Russian Federation , which called on the Bulgarian authorities to punish national-radicals and “continue to prevent such processions” ^[5] (despite the fact that the Attack , which leader Volen Siderov supports Putin’s policy ^[6] , such statements were not made).

February 14, 2015 on the Lukovsky march in Sofia came a few hundred people. The action was condemned in official statements by US and Russian diplomatic agencies. “The principles of freedom of speech should not be used to spread intolerance, xenophobia or anti-Semitism,” the report of the American Embassy in Bulgaria said. In the commentary of the Russian Foreign Ministry, posted a few days before the event, Lukovmarsh was called “a dangerous challenge to the civilized foundations of the modern world order” ^[7] .

Leftist and liberal circles are protesting against the Lukovsky march. In 2012, protests were sent to the Prime Minister of Bulgaria Boyko Borisov and Sofia Sofia Yordanka Fandykova . The European Network against Racism qualified the Lukovsky march as “the propaganda of racist and neo-Nazi ideas” ^[8] .

The affiliation of Lukovsky march to the ultra-right movements of Europe is obvious. It is characteristic that the organizers of the Sofia actions almost verbatim repeat the theses of the Italian neo-fascist leaders Stefano Delle Chiaie and Mario Merlino - about “Europe of free nations against the dictatorship of the European bureaucracy” ^[9] . However, supporters of the march and admirers of Lukov deny the Nazi character and declare the general a Bulgarian national hero. At the same time, they emphasize the relevance of their movement for modern Bulgaria, its national and social character:

We will have one answer to the labels of “fascists”, “Nazis”, “xenophobes”: we are Bulgarian patriots! .. No matter how many our opponents call the demonstrators “idiots”, “drunkards and drug addicts”, “criminal elements”, the truth is different. People of all ages and social groups participate in the march. Contemporaries of the general and students go shoulder to shoulder. Young families with children. Priests Supporters of various football teams who left enmity in the name of Bulgaria are walking together. On Lukovmarsh we see both working and university professors. Because the national idea penetrated into all social and professional strata of the Bulgarian people ^[10] .

The attitude to the Lukovsky march generates a sharp controversy at all levels of Bulgarian politics ^[11] .