Celebrations commemorating the 140^th anniversary of the April uprising against Ottoman rule continue today in the locality of Oborishte near Panagyurishte, where the first Bulgarian parliament was convened, as well as across the coluntry.

Despite the rain, hundreds of patriotically-minded Bulgarians gathered in the place where for the first time, 140 years ago, the foundations were laid of the future democratic republic. In front of the monument on which the names of the first Bulgarian MPs are inscribed, Tsetska Tsacheva, President of the Bulgarian National Assembly said:

“140 years ago, here at Oborishte our ancestors placed the highest value on the freedom of their country, turning the name of Bulgaria into an ideal we all carry in our hearts. Because if, today we are part of the big European family, we know that it was the April uprising that blazed the trail to this world, and Oborishte comes to remind us that the universal human values of this world are our national destiny.”

Hundreds of people watched a reenactment of the events of 140 years ago in the town square in Koprivshtitsa, another town connected with the April uprising. The celebrations there are attended by President Rosen Plevneliev who said:

“The April uprising is our own, 100 percent Bulgarian revolution, and even though it was crushed brutally, ultimately it succeeded. It gave us, Bulgarians, the spark we are in need of to this day.” The Bulgarian President added that what we have not yet achieved is the most important ideal - that of a “pure and sacred republic.”

The celebrations will end tonight with a military ceremony and fireworks.