Epress.am News from Armenia
Hundreds of local residents gathered in the Galata district of the Bulgarian city of Varna to honor the memory of General Andranik Ozanian (also known as Zoravar Andranik). As reported by the website of the Russian-language Yerkramas newspaper, a six-meter monument to the Armenian general was erected in the center of square that now bears the hero’s name. Participating in the opening ceremony were members of the public, government officials and political figures, as well as the head of the Union of Armenians in Bulgaria and General Andranik’s grandson Vardan Nranyan.
The unveiling of the monument was one of the first events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Balkan Wars, in which Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro and Serbia liberated the Balkans from Ottoman Empire rule. The Armenian auxiliary troops established by General Andranik fought in the Balkan Wars within the Bulgarian army.
Turkey earlier had expressed discontent regarding the Bulgarian authorities’ decision to erect the monument. The authorities, nevertheless, did not succumb to pressure from Turkey, reports Yerkramas.