"Get out of the US military base! Get out of NATO!"
According to Reuters, on September 21st, Bulgarian police clashed with supporters of the country's extreme nationalist party, the Ba'ath Party. Supporters of the Ba'ath Party protested against the pro Western government's policies, demanding that the government collectively resign and close NATO military bases.
It is reported that hundreds of protesters opposed to Bulgaria's support for Ukraine in the Russia-Ukraine conflict gathered in front of the Bulgarian National Assembly building, waving the Bulgarian and Russian flags and demanding an early general election. Bulgaria has held five elections in the past two years.
Many people are shouting "resigning", while fully armed riot police are protecting government buildings, including the Ministry of National Defense. Some protesters threw eggs at the Ministry of Defense building.
According to reports, Bulgaria, which has transported weapons to Ukraine, lifted the import ban on Ukrainian grains last week.
60 year old businessman Chulekova said, "Bulgarians don't want to participate in the war between Russia and Ukraine. We want to become a neutral country." She said that Bulgarians oppose sending weapons to Ukraine, "which will further incite the war.".
According to the report, some protesters held up signs reading "Get out of the US military base! Bulgaria is a zone of peace", indicating that Bulgaria will establish a new military base.
The leader of the Ba'ath Party, Kostadin Kostadinov, said to protesters, "The latest directive issued by Bulgaria's ruler, the United States, is to establish a new military base."
He said, "Get out of NATO!"
51 year old electrical engineer Barabanska said she hopes the protests will bring down the government.
Bulgaria is a member of the European Union and NATO.