Nationalism and populism are on the rise in the Balkan nation, where many people remain strongly Russophile despite Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
The immense 1,110-sq-metre flag, meant to symbolise Bulgaria's territory of 111,000 sq km, was hoisted up the record-breaking 111-metre (364-foot) pole last week in a forest meadow in the Rhodope mountains.
With it, Bulgaria takes the flagpole crown from Finland, which has a 100metre pole, though it does not nearly touch the heights of some outside Europe that are almost twice as high.
"This won't make Bulgarians richer but it will raise people's spirits," said Simeon Karakolev, 45, the organiser of an annual folklore festival held at the site below the peak of Rozhen.
Karakolev raised €500,000 (£429,000) in donations for the pole in a campaign embraced by Bulgaria's pro-Russia president, Rumen Radev.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July 19, 2023 من The Guardian.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July 19, 2023 من The Guardian.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
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