site.btaUPDATED Vazrazhdane Holds "Give Peace a Chance" Rallies in Several Cities

The political party Vazrazhdane held rallies under the slogan "Give Peace a Chance!" in Sofia on Monday. The event, part of a nation-wide effort, started at the National Palace of Culture, moved along Vitosha Boulevard and through downtown Sofia, and concluded at the Monument to the Unknown Soldier. Rallies were also hold in several other cities. 

Participants carried Bulgarian, Palestinian, and Lebanese flags, along with banners displaying messages such as "Peace is the Way Forward!" and "Unity for Peace." At the monument, they knelt and observed a minute of silence to honour the victims of wars and genocide.

Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov emphasized the significance of voting in the upcoming elections. "If you don't vote, you risk enabling war. On Sunday, we're not just choosing our leaders; we're choosing between war and peace," he told the media. He expressed concern about the formation of a new government that might lead Bulgaria into conflict, either by supporting Ukraine, as an alleged victim, or by siding with Israel, as a clear aggressor.

Kostadinov warned of the potential impact of the escalating conflict in the Middle East, which he noted is relatively close to Bulgaria’s borders. "If the conflict intensifies, we will be the first country affected by the migrant flow," he said.

He added that Vazrazhdane's priority would be ensuring Bulgaria's total non-involvement in the Middle East conflict and condemning violence and aggression against civilians.

The Ambassador of Palestine to Bulgaria, Nasri Abu Jaish, along with representatives from the Palestinian and Lebanese communities in Bulgaria, attended the event. Similar rallies were organized by Vazrazhdane in other cities, including Varna (on the Black Sea), Plovdiv (southern Bulgaria), Burgas (on the Black Sea), Veliko Tarnovo (Central Bulgaria), Ruse (on the Danube), Pleven (northern Bulgaria), and Yambol (southeastern Bulgaria).