Soviet War Monument in Bulgaria Gets a Splash of Color
Soviet communism remains very uncool in countries that formerly lived under it, which might explain why some very creative and patient graffiti artists have been repeatedly defacing a Soviet Army monument in Bulgaria.
The latest unauthorized use of spray paint coincided with the anniversary of the founding of the Bulgarian Socialist Party. The Russian Foreign Ministry is not amused, lodging a note of protest with the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry and issuing a statement of indignation over "the desecration of the grave of Soviet liberator soldiers." According to The Moscow Times:
The Russian Embassy in Bulgaria has issued a note demanding that its former Soviet-era ally clean up the monument in Sofia's Lozenets district, identify and punish those responsible, and take "exhaustive measures" to prevent similar attacks in the future.
Though the photo here depicts American pop culture figures like Superman and Ronald McDonald, street artists have also painted the monument blue and yellow (in apparent support of Ukraine) and even put colored ski masks on the heads of statues representing Soviet soldiers (a nod to the persecuted Russian art collective Pussy Riot).
(Hat tip: Liberty Viral)