Lenin

Viorel Moldovan. Photo: Lukáš Vráblik Lenin of the Rovers

Statues of Lenin and Stalin, removed from Albania's streets in the dying days of communism three decades ago, have suddenly reappeared in the garden of a government villa. Not everyone is impressed.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an address to the Russian people that he recognized the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics as independent states. At the end of the address, Vladimir Putin signed presidential decrees recognizing the republics and signed agreements on friendship and cooperation.

The oeuvres of the most eminent Bulgarian artists are offered for sale on the internet shopping platform for second-hand goods, Maritsa daily reported. The paintings have been put up for sale at online shop, offering no guarantee of authenticity or accompanying certificate.

Berlin's international film festival next month will feature 15 movies made under the pandemic in competition for its Golden Bear top prize, organizers said Feb. 11.

Bulgarian Climber Ivan Tomov died in the Himalayas, the organizer of the expedition announced.

On Thursday, the 35-year-old man from Rousse became the third Bulgarian to climb the eight-thousand-meter peak of Lhotse and the second to do it without additional oxygen.

By James George Jatras*

Every living nation needs symbols. They tell us who we are as one people, in what we believe, and on what basis we organize our common life.

Despite the backlash caused by the refusal of the Greek government to take part in a conference on August 23 in Estonia focusing on crimes committed by communist regimes in the 21st Century titled “The Heritage in 21st Century Europe of the Crimes Committed by Communist Regimes”, leftist SYRIZA party doubled down on the decision praising Justice Minister Stavros Kontonis for his stance.

Imagine such a life: Almost all of your decisions are made by somebody else; there is no free area in your life. Your education, job, marriage, free time, books and newspapers to be read… All of these are decided for you, and you need only obey. 

The West is going through quite serious crises; this can be seen, with all its colors, in the rise of populism. 

In the political system field, instead of pluralist and liberal democracy; authoritarian and populist trends are coming out of the ballot boxes and tensions are rising.