President Radev at National Day Ceremony: March 3 Symbolizes Bulgaria’s Ideal of Freedom, Unity, and Independence

Kaloyan Kirilov

President Rumen Radev Delivers Speech at National Day Ceremony, Sofia, March 3, 2025 (BTA Photo/Milena Stoykova)

Sofia,

03.03.2025 19:33

(BTA)

President Rumen Radev said March 3 is a symbol of generations of Bulgarians’ aspirations for a free, united, and independent Bulgaria, speaking on Monday during his address for Bulgaria’s National Day celebrations.

Radev emphasized that the date carries a deeper meaning beyond its historical significance. He took part in the ceremonial fireworks and military tribute ceremony at National Assembly Square in Sofia, where he reviewed the honour guard of the Bulgarian Army.

"We face challenges ahead, and we must overcome them as a conscious and united people. History should not divide us but serve as a shared destiny and lived experience, from which we must emerge wiser, more tolerant, more cohesive, and stronger," Radev said. He called on today’s generations to protect the Bulgaria inherited from national revivalists, April Uprising fighters, and Bulgarian volunteer corps members, honouring their sacrifice for the country’s freedom and sovereignty.

"That is why today, we pay tribute to our heroes, to the soldiers of the Tsar Liberator [Tsar Alexander II], and to all those who, for a century and a half, have safeguarded a free and independent Bulgaria," Radev said.

Addressing contemporary issues, Radev spoke of the ongoing war in Ukraine, calling it a "fratricidal bloodshed between the great-grandchildren of our liberators." He characterized the conflict as a tragedy with repercussions for Bulgaria, highlighting its role in revealing the fragility of the global order. He pointed out that the war has dispelled the notion that peace and human life are universally upheld as the highest values, and the belief that external forces can be relied upon to safeguard Bulgaria’s freedom, security, and future.

Radev criticized domestic political figures whom he accused of "waging war against monuments, rewriting history, waving foreign flags, disarming the Bulgarian army, and even calling for the abolition of March 3 as a national holiday."

"This will not be the Bulgaria of today, because we know that the tragedy unfolding in Ukraine began with the reopening of historical wounds, the desecration of monuments, and blind trust in external forces—a belief that events have dramatically disproven," he said.

President Radev emphasized that 147 years ago, Bulgaria was reborn on the map of Europe.

He noted that the army of Tsar Alexander II played a decisive role in defeating the Ottoman Empire and securing Bulgaria’s freedom. He emphasized the importance of honouring the thousands of courageous warriors—Bulgarian volunteers, Russian soldiers, and troops from various nations of the former Russian Empire—who lost their lives in key battles at Shipka, Pleven, Sheynovo, Stara Zagora, and along the winter march to Sofia.

He stressed that Bulgaria’s freedom was not a gift, but a hard-fought achievement. Finally, he expressed gratitude to those who had gathered on Shipka and in squares across Bulgaria on this day.

"I thank all of you who climbed Mt Shipka today and filled Bulgaria’s public squares—to defend historical truth and the future of our homeland."

/KT/

Additional

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03.03.2025 21:55 BG World

Bulgaria’s Freedom Has Always Come at a High Price, Says President Radev

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