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

Bulgaria’s position on the Gaza Strip remains unchanged

Bulgaria’s position on the Gaza Strip remains unchanged. The priority is direct dialogue with Israel, aimed at improving the humanitarian situation in Gaza and achieving a lasting peace based on the two-state solution, the Bulgarian Ministry of..

published on 7/24/25 10:51 AM

Parliament approves new measures and penalties against road traffic offenders

Bulgaria’s National Assembly has passed, at second reading, amendments to the Road Traffic Act. Municipal cameras and those from the national toll system will now be used to detect speeding violations.  The changes allow for the introduction of..

published on 7/24/25 9:53 AM

The Bulgarian passport grants visa-free access to 177 countries and destinations

Bulgaria retains 13th place in the Henley Passport Index, having climbed 8 positions over the past 10 years, according to the website of the London-based citizenship and residency consultancy Henley & Partners.  The Henley Passport Index ranks 199..

published on 7/24/25 9:16 AM