Police officers clashed in Sofia with supporters of the ultra-nationalist party Vazrazhdane (“Renaissance”) who are protesting the pro-Western policy followed by the Bulgarian government and are asking it to resign and at the same time to close the NATO military bases in Bulgaria.

Hundreds of protesters protesting Bulgaria’s support for Ukraine in its war with Russia gathered outside the parliament building, holding Bulgarian and Russian flags.

Those gathered were demanding the announcement of parliamentary elections – for the sixth time in two years.

Many were shouting “resignation”, addressing the government.

Police were deployed around government buildings, including the defense ministry, which some of the protesters threw eggs at.

Bulgaria, which has sent arms to Ukraine, last week lifted its ban on imports of Ukrainian grain.

“Bulgarians do not want to participate in the war between Russia and Ukraine, we want to remain neutral,” said a 60-year-old businesswoman, Neli Tyulekova. Bulgarians also disagree with sending weapons to Ukraine, which “further fuels the war,” he said.

Some of those gathered held placards with the slogan “American bases out, Bulgaria is a peaceful zone”, referring to the new military base established in the country.

“The latest orders from Bulgaria’s masters, from the USA, is for Bulgaria to build a new military base. Out with NATO,” Kostandin Kostandinov, the head of the Renaissance party, told the crowd.

The march of the demonstrators ended in front of a monument to the Soviet army. There they clashed with police officers who tried to prevent them from approaching the monument, which has been covered for security reasons. The government has decided to remove this monument.

Nelly Balabanska, 51, an electrical engineer, said she hoped the protests would lead to the resignation of the government.