The Bulgarian Icarus: Haskovo's Unique Sculpture Captures the Essence of Envy
In Haskovo, the Monument of Envy, also known as the "Bulgarian Icarus," stands out as a unique global attraction
A gathering of citizens in front of Plovdiv's Municipal Council building voiced their opposition on Wednesday to a controversial proposal suggesting the relocation of the "Alyosha" Monument to the Soviet Army. The initiative, put forth by municipal councilors Vladimir Slavenski and Yono Chepilski of "Democrats for Strong Bulgaria" (DSB), has sparked debate and raised questions about the preservation of historical monuments.
The proposal recommends dismantling the "Alyosha" Monument from its current location atop Bunardzhik Hill and transferring it to Sofia's Museum of Socialist Art by the end of 2024. The councilors argue that the move is a moral gesture honoring Bulgarian history, national dignity, and the victims of the communist regime. However, the suggestion has triggered conflicting responses within the Municipal Council.
Last week, the "There Is Such a People" (TISP) group proposed a local referendum on the monument's fate, adding another layer to the ongoing discussion. Protesters at the demonstration displayed signs with slogans such as "Those who have built nothing are destroying everything" and "You can't protect history with a referendum."
Several Members of Parliament from the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), including Kristian Vigenin, Georgi Svilenski, Manol Genov, Ivan Petkov, and Ivan Chenchev, expressed their support for the protest. Chenchev emphasized that every monument deserves respect and a rightful place in history, advocating against attempts to rewrite history or engage in a war with memory and monuments.
The "Alyosha" Monument, a 10.5-meter granite statue unveiled in 1957, portrays a Soviet soldier holding a Shpagin submachine gun. Modeled after Russian soldier Aleksei Ivanovich Skourlatov, the monument stands as a historical symbol, and the proposed relocation has prompted a public outcry.
Dutch experts from the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee are in Sofia for a series of capacity-building trainings with their Bulgarian colleagues from the General Directorate Border Police in identification of forged documents.
By the end of September, Bulgaria is set to receive eight F-16 Block 70 fighter jets
Boyko Borissov, leader of GERB, escalated his criticism of Bulgarian media outlets receiving grants today, calling for the suspension of such funding
The Bulgarian Ministry of Defense has reported a significant rise in the number of individuals interested in joining the military
The Bulgarian government is committed to using all available measures to prevent price speculation during the transition from the lev to the euro
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