At least 2,000 torch-bearing far-right extremists wearing swastikas marched through the Bulgarian capital of Sofia this weekend in the annual parade honoring former Nazi collaborator General Hristo Lukov.
Upon reaching the end of the march, many marchers snapped to Nazi salutes as they laid wreaths at Lukov’s former home, Reuters reported. The pro-Nazi general served as Bulgaria’s war minister from 1935 to 1938, and as the head of the pro-Nazi Germany Union of Bulgarian Legions from 1932-1943. He died on Feb. 13, 1943.
Extremists from other countries across Europe also joined the event, which took place on Saturday, and called on their peers from across Europe to join forces against “the globalists – the people who are running the EU, the people who are devastating Europe,” Per Sjogren of Sweden’s Neo-Nazi Nordic Resistance Movement told reporters.
Last week the World Jewish Congress warned about the rise of anti-Semitism, Nazi glorification and far-right extremism among young people in Europe.
“We urge governments across Europe to prioritize the introduction of administrative bans against such marches,” said WJC CEO Robert Singer. “This is not just a problem of the Jewish communities, but of European citizens and governments at large.”