Supporters of the pro-Russian Revival party trashed the EU offices in Bulgaria’s capital during a protest Sunday.
The protesters threw splashes of red paint as they passed in front of the European Commission office in Sofia, which also houses the liaison office of the European Parliament, during a demonstration about the war in Ukraine where one person could be seen waving a Russian flag.
The damage sparked criticism from Parliament President Roberta Metsola, who said the offices had been targeted by “vandals unhappy with our stance in support of Ukraine.”
“We will clean it up. Our backing of Ukraine will get stronger. Our voice condemning Russia’s invasion will only get louder,” Metsola said.
A European Commission spokesperson said Monday that: “We condemn violence and acts of vandalism.”
The Bulgarian foreign ministry also “categorically condemn[ed]” the vandalism, saying it was “incompatible” with “modern Bulgaria, as well as to the democratic values that our country embodies.”
The nationalist Revival party, which is pro-Russia and anti-NATO and the EU, finished third in the last national election in April, with 14.4 percent of the vote — up several points from the previous election in October.
The Revival party, which voted against sending military aid to Ukraine last December, had previously announced it would wage an “anti-war demonstration” and stop in front of the EU offices in Sofia to “protest against Brussels’ interference in our internal affairs.”
Source : POLITICO
