Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Rumen Radev: Our ancestors left us the duty to defend Bulgarian national interests

Photo: BGNES

Veliko Tarnovo is the centre of the celebrations of the 116th anniversary of the declaration of Bulgarian Independence, which was proclaimed on September 22 1908 in a manifesto by Prince Ferdinand I in the Church of the Forty Martyrs and later announced at the Tsarevets Fortress.
The President of the National Assembly, Raya Nazaryan, will take part in the celebrations in the old capital. 

At 10.30, the Bulgarian flag is hoisted with a military ceremony at the Tsarevets fortress. At 11.30, a large festive procession will march from the square in front of Tsarevets to the Town Hall, and at 12.30, the military orchestras participating in the 17th International Festival of Military Brass Bands in Veliko Turnovo will perform in front of the Central Post Office. At 19:30, there will be a ceremonial fireworks display and inspection on the city's Tsar Assen I Square.

"Driven by the belief that only an independent Bulgaria could be truly free, 116 years ago in the old capital city of Veliko Tarnovo, our ancestors rejected the vassalage to which our country was subjected by the Ottoman Empire and restored the Bulgarian people's faith in their own strength. This historic act taught us a priceless lesson that still holds true today - defending Bulgaria's national interests, rather than succumbing to compromises or blindly following foreign will, is the way to Bulgaria's worthy progress," President Rumen Radev wrote on Facebook.

The anniversary is being celebrated with events across the country.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

The average gross monthly salary for September is EUR 1,319

The average gross monthly salary in Bulgaria for July 2025 was BGN 2,570 (EUR 1,314.02), for August BGN 2,497 (EUR 1,276.7), and for September BGN 2,580 (EUR 1.319). The average monthly salary increased by 12.0% compared to the third quarter of..

published on 11/13/25 4:39 PM

Radev and Szijjártó: Restoring peace in Europe is possible through diplomacy

Today, Bulgaria’s Head of State Rumen Radev met at the presidential building with Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó. The two discussed Europe’s prospects for addressing the challenges it currently faces. Péter Szijjártó..

published on 11/13/25 3:14 PM

Parliament overrides President Radev’s veto on the amendments related to the special manager at Lukoil

Bulgaria’s National Assembly rejected President Rumen Radev’s veto on the amendments that expand the powers of the special commercial administrator of Lukoil, reported BNR’s correspondent Maria Fileva. The MPs from the ruling majority, supported by..

published on 11/13/25 1:39 PM