Referendum on Bulgaria's Artillery Range Fails

Society » ENVIRONMENT | May 27, 2013, Monday // 08:06
Referendum on Bulgaria's Artillery Range Fails: Referendum on Bulgaria's Artillery Range Fails Residents of Stara Zagora were to answer the question "Should the Zmeyovo artillery practice range be closed?". Photo by BGNES

The referendum on the future of the Zmeyovo military ground in Bulgaria failed due to low voter turnout.

Only 20% of local residents went to the polls, while in order for the referendum to be legitimate, at least 47.9% were needed, which was the turnout in the 2011 general elections.

The information campaign for the referendum started on April 26, 2013, and May 11 was the deadline to register to vote.

The artillery practice range in Zmeyovo exists since 1970 and became notorious over complaints of locals of air pollution.

Citizens of the southern Bulgarian city of Stara Zagora went to the polls Sunday. They were to answer the question "Should the Zmeyovo artillery practice range be closed?"

The local referendum was organized on the basis of a decision of the Stara Zagora municipal council, while the funding was provided from the municipal budget.

The air quality around the Zmeyovo artillery practice range has been monitored round the clock since 2008, when two automatic control stations were mounted.

According to statistics presented by caretaker Environment Minister Yulian Popov and caretaker Defense Minister Todor Tagarev, air pollution levels in Stara Zagora are much lower than in Sofia or Pernik, for instance, and the artillery practice range and the gas pollution in the city are unrelated.

Tagarev also insists Bulgaria needs the practice range.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!

Environment » Be a reporter: Write and send your article
Tags: local referendum, air pollution, Zmeevo, Stara Zagora, Zmeyovo

Advertisement
Advertisement
Bulgaria news Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) is unique with being a real time news provider in English that informs its readers about the latest Bulgarian news. The editorial staff also publishes a daily online newspaper "Sofia Morning News." Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) and Sofia Morning News publish the latest economic, political and cultural news that take place in Bulgaria. Foreign media analysis on Bulgaria and World News in Brief are also part of the web site and the online newspaper. News Bulgaria