The municipal councilors from the Sofia education and culture committee voted in favour of moving the Monument to the Soviet Army, BGNES news agency reports.

With 8 votes “in favour”, zero “against” and one abstained the councilors gave the green light to the dismantling of the 45-metre high monument. The councilors from Democratic Bulgaria and GERB voted “in favour”. The councilors from the Bulgarian Socialist Party stated they were against but walked out before the vote. The representative of VMRO abstained.

“It is important to take the first step, something we have all been waiting for for 30 years. The monument to the occupiers, three times as tall as the monument to Vasil Levski in Sofia must be removed and free this area,” said Marta Georgieva from Democratic Bulgaria.

“Our battle with monuments doesn’t solve any problems. By the same logic someone from the municipal council could decide to move the monument to the American pilots who bombed Sofia and place it at the entrance of the central cemetery,” Kaloyan Pargov from the Bulgarian Socialist Party on his part said.

The report for the removal of the monument was submitted by Democratic Bulgaria three years ago. The proposal should be voted at a session of the municipal council.