site.btaCulture Ministry Has Ordered End to Dismantling of Soviet Army Monument, Says Bulgarian Socialist Party

The Ministry of Culture has ordered an immediate termination of the dismantling of the Soviet Army Monument as early as December 14, reported the Bulgarian Socliaist Party -Sofia (BSP-Sofia).

BSP-Sofia head and municipal councilor Ivan Takov said that the regional administration is subject to very serious sanctions for not complying with the order. "These actions on the part of the regional administration are not just self-government, it is an excess of official rights and abuse of state funds," commented Takov.

BSP leader Korneliya Ninova said in a video on her Facebook page that despite this order from a competent authority, the regional governor and all those involved in the case continued the actions of dismantling the monument, lying to people's representatives and the public that there were proper documents and that everything was done according to the law.

Ninova  demanded a trial and the assumption of criminal responsibility by these people, as well as restitution of all damages they caused to the monument.
On December 12, Sofia Regional Governor Vyara Todeva said that the highest figures of the Monument to the Soviet Army will be dismantled. She said a next step would be a public procurement for restoration, as the monument has not been restored for 70 years and had significant cracks.