About a hundred people have demonstrated against Bulgaria's NATO membership, calling on the alliance "to leave" the country.

The event started at Sunday noon at the square in front of Bulgaria's Presidency and later headed to the National Assembly. It was formally organized by the Bulgarian Anti-Fascist Union.

Protesters demanded that Bulgaria remain neutral in any military action that could be carried out by the Alliance and revoke all of its commitments relating to a "direct or indirect war in Ukraine."

The country should quit NATO as well, they believe.

Sunday's event comes against the backdrop of an earlier decision to have a NATO command center located in Bulgaria alongside five other Eastern European member states.

Far-right Ataka party (one of the entities though to be behind the demonstration, since it included many sympathizers waving flags with its emblem) and others warned Bulgaria risked embroiling itself in a war with Russia and becoming a "target" in case an armed conflict started between Moscow and the West.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, however, insists the units are to ensure rapid deployment in case of a crisis and will help coordinate joint drills and training.