Kostadin Kostadinov, leader of Revival who has advocated for Bulgaria’s exit from NATO, was captured on film obstructing a civilian vehicle from accessing the plant, according to a Mediapool report.
The visit to Bulgaria’s state-owned arms manufacturer follows an announcement from Germany’s defense firm Rheinmetall about constructing two new factories in the region, including expanding facilities at Sopot, aiming to make Bulgaria Europe’s largest gunpowder producer.
During the Cold War, Bulgaria became a leading arms producer for the Warsaw Pact, focusing on small arms, ammunition, and light armored vehicles. However, the Soviet Union’s collapse led to a sharp decline in the sector, closing numerous state-run factories. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has revitalized Bulgaria’s defense industry, making the country a key supplier of Soviet-standard ammunition to Kyiv and reactivating previously idle plants and areas.
“The government’s current propaganda promising an economic boom is entirely false,” Kostadinov told reporters. “Is this plant beneficial to us? We know gunpowder production is hazardous and polluting. Why doesn’t Bulgaria invest in military mobility or electronics instead of dangerous materials?” he questioned.
Simultaneously, supporters of Velichie wielded axes in a livestream, claiming they were “the bouquet von der Leyen deserved.” The protests follow significant national anti-euro demonstrations.
Von der Leyen is on a tour of seven countries labeled as front-line states to reassure them of the EU’s commitment against Russian aggression. Alongside Bulgaria, which borders the Black Sea, the Commission head has already visited Finland, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland—all nations bordering Russia or Belarus. On Monday, she plans to visit Romania and Lithuania.
Her tour aligns with U.S. President Donald Trump’s intensified efforts to negotiate a ceasefire in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ongoing war against Ukraine, now reaching its fourth year.
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