Protest starts as Russian ambassador and metropolitan arrive at Russian church in central Sofia

A protest against the Russian invasion of Ukraine is being held in the centre of Sofia outside a church where Eleonora Mitrofanova, Russia’s ambassador to Bulgaria, and Metropolitan Anthony, the chairman of the External Church Relations Department of the Moscow Patriarchate, have arrived.

Source: Nova TV channel; European Pravda

Protestors are chanting "Murderers!" and "This is not Moscow!" in front of the Russian church in Sofia in protest against the visit by Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, who was appointed "minister of foreign affairs" of the Moscow Patriarchate after Metropolitan Ilarion was removed from the post.

Eleonora Mitrofanova, Russia’s ambassador to Bulgaria, is also attending the service.

"We are protesting because this is the most twisted form of arrogance during a war for the occupiers to come here to EU and NATO territory and hold a church service for Russia’s victory. This is insane, so we are protesting," explained Georgiy Ivanov, one of the protesters.

Iryna, a Ukrainian woman from Kherson, fled to Bulgaria with her young son to escape the Russian invasion. She said she was protesting against Putin’s bloody war in Ukraine because members of her family are in occupied territory at the moment.

"I am here as an indignant citizen because this is blasphemy - holding a prayer service for a terrorist state in a church in Bulgaria and blessing child murderers. Do you know what’s going on in Ukraine right now? There are thousands of children in bomb shelters. There are thousands of children in mortal danger! And there are people in this church who are praying that they will be able to kill even more of them. They are praying there right now for one country to destroy another," she said.

Background: On 3 November the National Assembly (Parliament) of Bulgaria backed a resolution to supply Ukraine with military and technical aid.

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