Was a monument to the Soviet Army in Sofia, Bulgaria, dismantled as a part of the erasure of communism? No, that's not true: The Sofia district administration, based on inspection results, determined that the monument required urgent restoration and relocation within the city due to its deteriorating condition and the potential danger it posed to the public, a decision endorsed by the Bulgarian government.
The claim appeared in a video (archived here) on TikTok published by andy.77771 on December 19, 2023. The text on the video (translated from Russian to English by Lead Stories staff) read:
In Bulgaria a Soviet Army monument is being dismantled. 😳😳😳😳😳😳 - monument erected to honor soldiers that freed Bulgarian land from the fascists of the Second World War.
This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:
(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Wed Dec 20 16:49:30 2023 UTC)
The claim suggests that the removal of the Soviet monument in Bulgaria is part of a broader trend to eradicate communist relics, akin to actions taken in other European countries.
In March 2023, the Bulgarian government decided to dismantle the Soviet monument following an inspection that revealed cracks and erosion, deeming it a public hazard. Erected in 1954, the 70-year-old monument had not undergone restoration.
Officially signing an order, Mayor Traicho Traikov of Sofia's Sredets district initiated the dismantling of the Soviet Army Monument in the heart of the Bulgarian capital. Martin Markov, a sculptor who is involved in the removal of the structure, shared an expert report highlighting the damage sustained over time.
Following its full dismantling, the monument is scheduled to be showcased in the Museum of Socialist Arts.
