The dismantling of the Monument to the Soviet Army, known as MOCHA, continues with the removal of plaques. This includes the inscription on the monument “To the Soviet Army, the liberator of the grateful Bulgarian people”.
This was announced by the Sofia Regional Administration on Monday. From there, they add that the dismantling continues after the Supreme Administrative Court (SAC) rejected the obstacles to it a few days ago.
The Supreme Court of Appeal declared “inadmissible” the order of the first instance court to stop the dismantling.
On December 19 The Sofia Administrative Court issued an order to immediately stop the dismantling of the monument, after it was flooded with complaints from Maya Manolova’s “Izpravi se.bg” and municipal councilors from BSP.
The order was late because the dismantling of the figures from the monument had been completed several hours before.
The regional governor Vyara Todeva refers to an order of the chief architect of Sofia Zdravko Zdravkov from March last year.
It is for the removal of the plates from the frontal part of the monument, including the inscription, as they have been moved dangerously. The order does not affect the entire pedestal or the other figures, part of the monument.
The order to remove the sign was issued after it was broken with a hammer by a citizen. Later, the BSP restored the plaque with their own funds.
Last year, the regional administration removed the figures from the monument’s pedestal on the grounds that they were corroded and dangerous. They are still in stock in the village of Lozen.
For their restoration and conservation, regional governor Vyara Todeva requested BGN 2.548 million from the government.
