Protests in the capital of Bulgaria and several large cities took place under the slogan "Russia without Putin", BGNES reported.
In Sofia, the dissatisfied gathered in the immediate vicinity of the National Palace of Culture (NDK), reported a BGNES reporter.
The calls of the demonstrators read "Free for A. Navalny! Russia without Putin - the killer of women and children!", "The place on Nemtsov Square is next to Mutrofanova's fence!", "Freedom for Navalny!", "Provide asylum for Glazunova, Sanina, Struchev and all opponents of Putin's war!".
A white-blue-white flag has also been unfurled at the protest site. It symbolizes the true national flag of the Russian Federation for the demonstrators who are opposed to President Vladimir Putin, as it has been stripped of the red color, which they describe as the color that symbolizes the aggression of the Russian Federation in Ukraine and the terror of Russian citizens who oppose the Russian state politics and the Kremlin regime.
"We are here today to support our friends from Free Russia in their initiative 'Russia without Putin', because Putin is an evil that, as we see, the whole world is already suffering from him. There is no conflict left that has not messed up everywhere - not only in Ukraine," Kolyu Karastoyanovi told BGNES, adding that the Russian president is trying to "mix up Kosovo and Serbia."
The protester is adamant that "all evil is Putin", calling for "Russia without Putin" and "freedom for Navalny". According to him, the situation in the Russian Federation will not change after the presidential elections. "There is no democracy in Russia. Elections are pro forma. Just some armed people with voter lists pass by and if you dare don't vote for Putin. It's just pro forma everywhere," he stated.
Karastoyanov commented that the white-blue-white flag is the new flag of Russia, "without the red stripe, which is blood."
Maya Markova told BGNES that she regularly participates in the protests of the Association for a Free Russia in order to support their demands for the democratization of Russia and for asylum for Putin's opponents seeking asylum in Bulgaria. "The white-blue-white flag is obtained by removing the red color - the color of blood - from the flag of Russia. Opponents of Putin and the current Russian regime have adopted this flag, the flag of a struggling, free Russia," the woman explained.
According to her, the outcome of the presidential elections in the Russian Federation is predetermined. "Putin will win, the percentages are already known - over 90% will be there." But interestingly, despite this, Putin is careful not to anger his subjects too much beforehand, for example delaying mobilization. Mobilization and overall worsening of the situation is expected after the elections," added Markova.
In conclusion, she called on the Bulgarian civil society to support Ukraine and the struggling free Russia more.
Plovdiv also joined the initiative for protests against the rule of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The peaceful demonstration took place in front of the Central Post Office in the city, reported the BGNES correspondent from the city on the hills.
Some of the protesters came with their children and held up posters with slogans against the Russian president and with warnings that war is closer than it seems.
All the time, employees of the Ministry of the Interior of Plovdiv guarded the protest, which passed without provocation.
The few Russian citizens gathered in Plovdiv condemned the aggression of Vladimir Putin and declared themselves free and independent Ukraine.
Russians went to a peaceful protest in Burgas with a request for political asylum. They gathered in front of Alyosha's monument in the seaside town, the BGNES correspondent reported.
Today, the global action "Russia without Putin" is taking place. At the protest, a call was made to the Bulgarian authorities to give asylum to the opponents of the Russian president.
The country's refugee agency has repeatedly refused to consider the asylum applications of two female refugees from Russia who oppose the war against Ukraine - without examining their claims on their merits.
It is about actress Elena Sanina and theater director Oksana Glazunova. Both believe that their stance against the war puts them on the right side of history.
Along with the cases of Elena Sanina and Oksana Glazunova, the organizers are trying to draw public attention to the fate of another refugee - Gleb Struchev. /BGNES
