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Sofia Mayor Yordanka Fandakova has responded with a guarded comment to the latest artist makeover of the controversial Soviet Army Monument in the Bulgarian capital.
On Wednesday, the the monument "woke up" with the Red Army soldier figures painted in pink and with the inscriptions in Bulgarian and Czech "Bulgaria apologizes" ("Bulharsko se omlouv?").
August 21st marks the 45th anniversary of brutal Soviet crushing of the Prague Spring, in which the Bulgarian communist regime played a major role.
While Fandakova has expressed her support for the anonymous artists' message - describing it as "topical - she believes the Soviet Army Monument was "not the place for it."
This is not the first time when the monument of the Soviet Army in Sofia has been decorated.
The most famous "decoration" of the monument so far happened in June 2011when a group of street artists painted the bronze figures of Soviet soldiers to represent various US pop culture characters, turning them into The Joker, Wolverine, Santa,Superman, Ronald McDonald, Captain America, Robin, and Wonder Woman, among others.
In August 2012, colorful hoods of the soldiers of the controversial monument of the Soviet Army in downtown Sofia were painted in sign of support for the female Russian punk group Pussy Riot, who are facing trial over "anti-Putin" acts.
There have been several other paintings as well.
The National Social Security Institute (NSSI) has reported that the average social security income for October 2024 in Bulgaria stands at 1666.05 leva
A recent survey by Alpha Research, commissioned by the GLAS Foundation, reveals that despite intensified public debates and targeted attacks on the LGBTQ+ community in 2024
Wednesday’s weather across Bulgaria is expected to be predominantly sunny
Sofia is once again hosting a celebration of literature at the National Palace of Culture, where the Book Fair has kicked off, running through Sunday
Guns N’ Roses, one of the most iconic rock bands in history, will perform in Sofia at Vasil Levski Stadium on July 21, 2025, as part of their extensive European and Middle East tour
Overnight, light rain showers are expected, with no significant precipitation forecasted during the day
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