WWF Bulgaria marks International Day of Democracy

On the occasion of the International Day of Democracy, observed on September 15, WWF Bulgaria highlighted the historical connection between environmental protection and democratic movements in the country.

Specifically, the organization noted that the civil protests of mothers in Ruse during 1987-1988 against air pollution from the Giurgiu chemical plant served as a significant driver for democratic change in Bulgaria. These environmental protests preceded the regime change and evolved into political movements.

Bulgaria's 1991 Constitution was among the first in Central and Eastern Europe to establish a healthy and favorable environment as a fundamental citizen right, decades before the United Nations defined it as a universal human right. Today, local civic committees continue to influence political agendas through legal actions, protests, and petitions regarding nature conservation.