Bulgarian Foreign Ministry Condemns Annual Lukov March Amidst Court Overturn of Ban

Ministry Expresses 'Categorical Opposition'

The Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has voiced its 'categorical opposition' to the planned holding of the annual 'Lukov March' in Sofia, a torchlight procession that honors General Hristo Lukov. The Ministry stated on Friday that such events are 'incompatible with the values and traditions of Bulgarian society' and that Bulgaria 'will not have its territory used as a stage for an international display of extremism, intolerance, discrimination and hatred.' The official position further noted that these manifestations 'are used to cast Bulgaria unjustly in a negative light and to overshadow its human rights achievements.'

Controversial Figure and Annual Event

The 'Lukov March' is an annual event organized by the Bulgarian National Union (BNS), a far-right group considered the ideological successor to Lukov's own organization. It typically takes place in February, around the anniversary of Lukov's assassination on February 13, 1943. Hristo Lukov (1888-1943) was a Bulgarian lieutenant-general, politician, and Minister of War from 1935 to 1938. He led the Union of Bulgarian National Legions (UBNL), an organization widely recognized for its support of Nazi ideology and its advocacy of antisemitic ideas.

Legal Battles and International Condemnation

The march has consistently faced opposition from various bodies. The Sofia Municipality has repeatedly attempted to ban the event, but these bans have frequently been overturned by administrative courts. For the 2026 event, Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev initially banned the march, but the Sofia City Administrative Court overturned this decision. Subsequently, the Mayor designated a new starting point and a considerably shorter route for the procession. The 'Lukov March' has also drawn widespread criticism from:

• Jewish groups
• Human rights organizations
• Foreign embassies, including the U.S. Embassy, which issued a warning to its citizens regarding the event.

March Proceeds with Police Presence

Despite the Foreign Ministry's strong stance and the earlier legal challenges, a march in memory of General Lukov took place in Sofia on Saturday evening, February 14, 2026. The procession followed a short route to the house where Lukov lived, where a commemorative plaque is mounted. There was a 'heightened police presence' during the event, and traffic on a portion of a nearby boulevard was briefly blocked. Participants were observed chanting 'General Hristo Lukov' and 'Banned but not forgotten,' and lit candles in front of the house.