“145 years ago today, Bulgaria was resurrected. The army of Russian Emperor Alexander II crushed the Ottoman Empire. For the second year, we welcome the holiday when war is raging in Ukraine. The men whose grandfathers together liberated our homeland are killed in it. This is also our pain. The fire of war has thrown sparks that can set fire to our rug. It’s up to us not to let that happen.”
This was stated by President Rumen Radev in his speech during the ceremonial dawn-check at the National Assembly Square.
“It is inadmissible to fly flags other than the native tribagrenik over Bulgaria. A century and a half ago, the revivalists set about building Bulgaria. Today, the pillars of statehood are under attack,” the head of state said.
“The war with the past is a path to self-destruction. History is not the handmaiden of politics. It is an identity. A nation that allows its history to be changed is doomed to lose its freedom as well. Our task is to preserve history in order for Bulgaria to exist,” added Radev.
In the ceremony in front of the National Assembly, the Guard’s representative brass band and representative units from the National Guard unit took part. The commander of the ceremonial dawn inspection was Brigadier General Plamen Yordanov – Chief of Staff of the Ground Forces.
On the occasion of the National Day, the co-chairman of “We continue the change” Kiril Petkov recalled the names of many of the heroes, including Botev and Levski.
“All these great Bulgarians did not wait for a savior to come – they knew that if we did not stand side by side and fight for our freedom, it would never come,” he pointed out.
Ivaylo Mirchev from “Democratic Bulgaria” wrote on social networks that true freedom is not a gift.
“True freedom is that which we ourselves have fought for. Shipka’s militia used to do this. Today we have other ways, everyday,” he commented.
The leader of GERB, Boyko Borisov, gave a greeting.
Photo: Editorial team
“Let us pass on to the future generations the covenant to protect Freedom, love the Motherland and build with reason and heart, responsibly and inspired their better and more beautiful world, so that Bulgaria can be and remain,” announced the chairman of the DPS Mustafa Karadai .
And the leader of “Vazrazhdane” Kostadin Kostadinov reminded that our freedom is not a given.
“Let us never forget that our freedom is not a given and we must fight for it every day. Long live Bulgaria”.
BSP leader Kornelia Ninova addressed the Bulgarians from Mount Shipka.
“We are here to bow before the feat of the Bulgarian militiamen, to all the warriors who gave their lives in the Russian-Turkish war of liberation for Bulgaria,” she said.
And President Rumen Radev received congratulatory addresses from heads of state, leaders and monarchs from around the world, as well as from Pope Francis.
