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Russia demands investigation into facts of desecration of WWII Red Army monument in Sofia

Vandals committed another act of vandalism against the Soviet Army memorial in central Sofia on the night to April 14

Soviet Army memorial in central Sofia AP Photo Archive/Valentina Petrova

Soviet Army memorial in central Sofia

© AP Photo Archive/Valentina Petrova

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MOSCOW, April 15 /TASS/. Russian demands thorough investigation into the recent act of vandalism against the WWII Soviet Army memorial in central Sofia and punishment for the desecrators, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement released on Wednesday.

Vandals committed another act of vandalism against the Soviet Army memorial in central Sofia on the night to April 14. The monument symbolizes the Bulgarian people’s gratitude to Soviet soldiers and officers who liberated Europe from fascist slavery, the ministry went on to say.

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"In this connection, we demand the incident’s thorough investigation and punishment for the monument’s desecrators. We hope that Bulgaria’s official authorities will finally take all necessary measures to avert similar barbaric actions, which have got nothing to do with the general principles of democracy and freedom, in future," the ministry’s press and information department said.

"It is regretful that against the background of prompt police actions, it is not for the first time that the country’s incumbent authorities are appeasing the organizers of such acts," the Russian Foreign Ministry stressed.

"The act looks particularly cynical and provocative because it was committed in the run-up to a great historical event — the 70th anniversary of Victory in WWII in which the Soviet army and the Soviet people suffered the greatest losses," the ministry’s statement said.

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Foreign policy Russian Foreign Ministry Bulgaria

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