SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) – Far-right nationalists gathered in the Bulgarian capital on Saturday to honor a World War II general known for his anti-Semitic and pro-Nazi activities.
Brave temperatures below zero swept hundreds of dark-clad supporters of the Bulgarian National Union group to a central square where they planned to kick off the annual Lukov march, a torchlight procession held every February to the former home of Gen. . Hristo Lukov.
The mayor of Sofia suspended this year’s march and allowed only the flowers at home. The police divided and escorted participants into small groups.
Earlier Saturday, dozens of anti-fascist activists protested against the nationalist event and chanted slogans such as ‘No Nazis in our streets’. A heavy police presence blocked clashes between the two sides.
Neo-Nazis and like-minded extremists marched for nearly two decades in honor of Lukov, who supported Germany during World War II and was assassinated on February 13, 1943 by members of a resistance movement.
The general served as Minister of War from 1935 to 1938 and led the pro-Nazi Germany Union of Bulgarian legions from 1932 to 1943.
Contemporary nationalists deny that Lukov was an anti-Semitic fascist or that they promoted neo-fascism. They claim that the descendants of the general’s killers are afraid of the annual march.
Human rights groups, political parties and foreign embassies have strongly condemned the event every year. The mayor of Sofia banned the march earlier, but the organizers repeatedly managed to get a court order reversing the ban.
Fans of the Bulgarian National Union put a wreath and flowers in front of Lukov’s former home on Saturday and paid homage to the torchlight.