Schmeisser Update

We used to have the Schmeisser monument in Sofia, commemorating the Soviet’s occupation (or liberation, depending on who you ask) of Bulgaria. Most of the giant monument, strategically located in front of the Turkish embassy, is still menacing there.

A few years ago, the top statue got torn apart and removed for “restoration”, and the entire area got surrounded with a wall, pending more decisive political times. The area behind the wall started turning into a jungle, like any space left unattended in Sofia. Now that Giro d’Italia is coming to Sofia, the wall suddenly became too expensive to keep. I thought it was gone and went to document the development but it didn’t, it just shrank, leaving behind Nature’s attempt to conquer the monument.

Photo report below.

The big sign on the monument says “We want Bulgarian monument”.

The Schmeiser is gone

The monument of the soviet army in Sofia lost its gun. The sculpture is too large and it looks like it will be chopped to pieces rather than removed all at once.

I saw no pro-Russian protesters, which also surprised me. There were statements for the eternal defense of the monument. In the end, it looks like nobody cared enough to stay overnight in the cold for this gigantic gun to remain menacing over the sky.

Looking forward to seeing which piece is removed next.