site.btaSofia City Administrative Court Orders Termination of Soviet Army Monument's Dismantling

At the request of the Vazrazhdane party, the Sofia City Administrative Court Tuesday ordered the unconditional termination of the dismantling of the Soviet Army Monument in downtown Sofia, arguing that the monument's removal does not comply with an administrative act or the law, the court's website said.

In its reasoning, the Administrative Court states that neither an administrative act nor a contract has been submitted to make clear what shall happen to the figures after the monument is dismantled, where they shall be taken, how they shall be stored, whether the monument restoration will be undertaken, how much of the allocated funds will be spent on dismantling, on storage and security, and on the restoration and its subsequent installation, and which officials shall supervise the dismantling and restoration of the monument.

The order is appealable by the Sofia Regional Governor within three days of its issuance. It shall be immediately executed by the law enforcement authorities.

At the request of the Rise Up BG civic platform, the Sofia City Administrative Court ordered the unconditional termination of the actions carried out by officials of the Sofia city regional administration on the dismantling and cutting of the monument's bronze figures.

The Soviet Army Monument’s restoration is not subject to coordination with the Culture Ministry’s Specialized Expert Council for the Arts (SECA), the Sofia city’s regional administration said Tuesday.