Radio Bulgaria https://bnr.bg/en BNR Radio Bulgaria Wed, 20 Nov 2024 06:37:23 +0200 en-en https://bnr.bg/img/logos/bnr.png Radio Bulgaria https://bnr.bg Sunny but windy weather https://bnr.bg/en/post/102077024/sunny-but-windy-weather 102077024

The night sky will be mostly clear, with scattered medium and high clouds. There will be a weak to moderate southerly wind.

On Wednesday it will be windy. There will be moderate to strong and gusty wind from the south-southwest. Sunny weather will prevail, but in the evening the cloudiness over the northwestern regions Bulgaria will increase. Daytime temperatures will rise and will be between 12° and 17°C. In some places the highest tempererature will reach 18°-20°C. In Sofia the highest temperature will be around 15°C.

In the mountains it will be mostly sunny with scattered medium and high clouds. There will be strong to stormy wind from the west-southwest. In the evening, in the massifs of Western Bulgaria, the cloudiness will increase and by midnight in the western regions of the Balkan Mountain, rainfalls will start; above 1500 meters - snowfalls. The highest temperature at an altitude of 1200 meters will be about 12°C; at 2000 meters - about 6°C.

At the Black Sea coast, it will be mostly sunny. In the morning hours, visibility will be reduced in some places. There will be a moderate, temporarily strong and gusty wind from the south-southwest in the afternoon. The highest temperatures will be 14° - 16°C, slightly higher than the temperature of the sea water.

]]> News Tue, 19 Nov 2024 18:55:58 +0200 Bulgaria and Romania's Schengen accession is a package deal, assures President Radev https://bnr.bg/en/post/102077322/bulgaria-and-romania-s-schengen-accession-is-a-package-deal-assures-president-radev 102077322 President Rumen Radev

Bulgaria and Romania will not be separated on their way to joining Europe's open borders, President Rumen Radev told journalists, commenting on Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu's announcement that Romania will fully join the Schengen area from January 2025. Ciolaku said this after a crucial meeting in neighbouring Hungary on Friday. "We are waiting for positive news on 12 December," Radev announced, but asked journalists not to speculate prematurely on the issue. 

He told reporters that at the recent summit of the European political community in Budapest, he had held in-depth talks with a number of European leaders, including those of Austria, the Netherlands and representatives of the European Commission. 

The President also commented on the situation in Bulgaria. Asked about allegations that the caretaker government had acted in the interests of the DPS-New Beginnings party, the Head of State pointed out that it was the Council of Ministers that had "quickly handed over a building in the centre of Sofia to Delyan Peevski's party, leaving civil servants on the street with hardly any notice". 

"Do we still have to ask ourselves: who makes decisions in the government and how, and what kind of rule of law can we even talk about, while the oligarchy sanctioned under the Magnitsky act swallows up the state in big bites?" the president asked rhetorically. 

]]> News Tue, 19 Nov 2024 18:30:05 +0200 Bulgaria Today – 19 November 2024 https://bnr.bg/en/post/102077213/bulgaria-today-19-november-2024 102077213

In “Bulgaria Today” on Tuesday, 19 November, we bring you, first, the latest news from this country.

Next on the show: Kayaking down the Yantra River is a journey through magical landscapes, monastic cloisters in the cliffs and curtains of green vegetation - a habitat for rare bird species. It is more than an adventure - it is an unforgettable experience of nature and history, we learn from Radio Bulgaria's Veneta Nikolova and her interlocutor Sasho Popov.

Finally, in our music slot, we have the latest single from rock band B.T.R. called 'Anise Days'.

  • 02’04 – News

  • 16’25 – Song of the day

]]> Tue, 19 Nov 2024 18:00:07 +0200 Unions threaten protests unless salaries rise by 10% https://bnr.bg/en/post/102077316 102077316

The Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) is demanding a pay rise of at least 10 per cent for all state employees in 2025, and a bigger increase in incomes in the education, health and interior sectors. 

In Burgas, union leader Plamen Dimitrov stated that the proposed increase was possible if the state budget was well balanced. If there is no pay rise, mass protests are expected in many sectors - schools and higher education, agriculture, culture, health, etc., Dimitrov added.

The country's other main union, Podkrepa, said today that the number of so-called 'working poor' in the country had risen by 50% in recent years, from 8% to almost 12%.

]]> News Tue, 19 Nov 2024 17:35:20 +0200 Bulgarian wins Women in Tech Global Lifetime Achievement Award 2024 https://bnr.bg/en/post/102077144/bulgarian-wins-the-women-in-tech-global-lifetime-achievement-award-2024 102077144

Bulgarian Sasha Bezuhanova, an internationally recognized manager in the digital industry and philanthropist, received the prestigious international Women in Tech Global Lifetime Achievement Award 2024 for her contribution to the development of technology and innovation at a global level. The award is presented by Women in Tech Global - a Paris-based international organization working to attract and empower women in the technology sector.

The Women in Tech Global Awards are presented for the seventh year in nine categories. A month ago, Sasha Bezuhanova was named the winner for Europe in the Lifetime Achievement Award category and in November she was also honored with the award for overall contribution at a global level. The Women in Tech Global Awards 2024 were presented on November 14 at a special ceremony in Paris.

]]> News Tue, 19 Nov 2024 14:51:56 +0200 Prayer held in Varna for the release of two Bulgarian sailors held captive by the Houthis https://bnr.bg/en/post/102077112/prayer-held-in-varna-for-the-release-of-two-bulgarian-sailors-held-captive-by-the-houthis 102077112 Shot from hijacking

Today marks one year since the hijacking of the ship "Galaxy Leader" by the Houthis in the Red Sea. On this occasion, a prayer service for the health and freedom of two Bulgarian sailors, who are still held in captivity, was held at the Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker church in Varna. 

The event was attended by friends and relatives of the two men, as well as the company's manager, Capt. Zoltan Sulay. Sulay reported that a few days ago the two Bulgarian sailors communicated with their relatives and that they were well. He added that they had not been forgotten and the Bulgarian state, represented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the presidency was working hard for their release.

]]> News Tue, 19 Nov 2024 14:17:51 +0200 Bulgaria's Yantra River tells stories: kayaking among rock wonders and green tunnels https://bnr.bg/en/post/102077091/bulgaria-s-yantra-river-tells-stories-kayaking-among-rock-wonders-and-green-tunnels 102077091 View of Yantra River

The Yantra River rises in the Balkan Mountains at 1,220 metres above sea level and descends northwards, meandering through picturesque valleys and gorges in central northern Bulgaria, crossing the towns of Gabrovo and Veliko Tarnovo. Shortly before it flows into the Danube, in the area of the villages of Belyanovo and Novgrad, like a talented sculptor, the river moulds before our stunned eyes meanders and a deep canyon lined with caves and inaccessible crevices.

The place is a magnet for nature lovers, photographers and kayaking fans from all over Bulgaria. The kayaking season doesn't end until mid-December, and starts with groups of enthusiasts descending the river as early as January.

"In the late autumn and winter you can see very large flocks of birds, including pelicans, and rags of fog are creeping low over the water and it is very beautiful," says Sasho Popov, chairman of the Prista Tourist Society, which organises kayaking adventures in the area.

Sasho Popov giving instructions for a group of beginners
It turns out that the Yantra River is also suitable for beginners:

"We give short instructions and people get in the boats and go. The river is good, cozy. It envelops people with its atmosphere and they feel part of the landscape, of all this abundance... There are trees on both sides and you're like in a green tunnel. You find yourself into an isolated world with many birds and animals and you sink inside nature. There may be settlements around, roads, but they remain out of sight, out of our hearing. And we move only along this green street called Yantra."


Watch the video report from our journey in the canyon of the Yantra River and the Polomie area. For translation adjust the settings: 


The river routes vary in length. The shortest one starts from the bivouac at the village of Belyanovo. The route is approximately 8 km long and in its last section enters the relatively calmer waters of the Danube with the final stop at the village of Krivina.

The most popular route, however, is a two-day one with the starting point being the famous bridge of Kolyo Ficheto in the town of Byała. Along the way, travellers usually spend the night in the village of Belyanovo:

The Kolyo Ficheto Bridge in the town of Byala, where the two-day water route starts
"Interestingly, in this part of the Yantra River there are high cliffs on one bank, reaching up to 40-50 m. And this rock wall is "embedded" directly into the water below", says Sasho Popov. "These rocks are limestone, they have been eroded by the water. They have an interesting structure with caves, with niches... And in some of them hermit monks in the Middle Ages carved rock cells. There were rock churches, rock monasteries. They are difficult to access, you need mountaineering equipment to penetrate them. But near the village of Belyanovo you can see a rock church from the 12th century, which has been improved for tourism purposes."


Tourists from all over Bulgaria, and lately foreigners, wishing to experience the paradisiacal beauty of this little-known place, have been turning to the Prista Tourist Society. "We have our own boats, paddles, life jackets and most importantly - instructors and captains - people with the right to guide, who can lead groups with kayaks," explains Sasho Popov and adds:

"And it becomes a combination - we have sport and tourism activity related to rowing. We have beautiful landscapes like in the paintings of the impressionists, of Claude Monet. We have history - the monastic cloisters in the cliffs. We have ornithology, because this green curtain on both sides of the river attracts many waterfowl - grey heron, cormorants, mallards. I've also seen storks, osprey, etc. There are legends of huge fish living in the underwater cavities here. Right where the rock reaches the water there are underwater niches where huge catfish used to hide and fishermen, when they catch a catfish, tell stories for years," says Sasho Popov in conclusion.


Explore more parts of Bulgaria with the same author:



Photos: Veneta Nikolova

English publication: Rositsa Petkova

]]> Tourism Tue, 19 Nov 2024 13:55:22 +0200 No increase in social security contributions is planned https://bnr.bg/en/post/102077005/no-increase-in-social-security-contributions-is-planned 102077005 Dimitar Glavchev

Caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev said that no increase in social security contributions is being planned. Glavchev attended the presentation of a new, state-of-the-art artificial intelligence, operating in Bulgarian and created by the Institute for Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Technology. 

Glavchev pointed out that the final decision on social security contributions is up to the MPs. Regarding the pension system, former Social Minister Hristina Hristova told the Bulgarian National Radio that in the past 4 years, not one of all the changes to the pension system was based on the basic social security principle for the contribution of a person.

]]> News Tue, 19 Nov 2024 12:15:09 +0200 20 to 30 people lose their lives annually on construction sites https://bnr.bg/en/post/102076991/20-to-30-people-lose-their-lives-annually-on-construction-sites 102076991

At least 20-30 people from the construction industry lose their lives each year, said Ognyan Atanasov, Vice President of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria. In an interview with BNR, he commented on the tragic incident in Sofia, where one worker died and others were injured due to illegal repairs in a prefabricated reinforced concrete hall.

According to Ognyan Atanasov, there are 350 inspectors in Bulgaria, i.e.1 inspector per 10,000 people, and they cannot monitor everything that happens in the sector. In his words, there are 7,000 construction companies registered with the Bulgarian Construction Chamber. Ognyan Atanasov expects the Bulgarian Construction Chamber to take a stance on these cases. He pointed out that the Health and Safety at Work Act states that the responsibility for ensuring safe working conditions lies with the employer. Ognyan Atanasov added that fines for employers who fail to provide safe working conditions start from 2,000 Leva, and for a second violation, the fine rises to 15,000 Leva. According to him, these penalties should be significantly increased, as well as the compensation paid for work-related accidents.


]]> News Tue, 19 Nov 2024 12:06:10 +0200 Bulgarian economy registers upsurge, yet unevenly distributed over different regions Negative natural population growth continues, tourism and services create wealth in Sofia and resort towns: analysis by the Institute for Market Economics https://bnr.bg/en/post/102076978/bulgarian-economy-registers-upsurge-yet-unevenly-distributed-over-different-sectors 102076978

There has been an upsurge in the economy in every region of Bulgaria, the effects of the Covid crisis have been overcome, tourism has fully recovered, which is evident in Bulgarian seaside regions and spa resorts - this is the conclusion that is drawn from the data in the latest analysis of the Institute for Market Economics - "Regional Profiles. Development Indicators 2024". Based on 75 indicators, the economic and social situation of all 28 regions in Bulgaria is measured. 

The leading economic sector in the country is services, with Sofia accounting for 80% of businesses. They are followed by the IT sector. The average life expectancy is the highest in Kardzhali district ( Southern Bulgaria) and in the capital city - 75.4 years. At the other end of the scale is Vidin District (Northwest Bulgaria), where it is just over 69 years. The average pension is also highest in Sofia - BGN 1,040 (EUR 521), while in Kardzhali it is only BGN 656 (EUR 329), which shows the great inequalities in the different regions of the country.

According to the annual economic comparison of the regions, the highest taxes are paid in Varna, Burgas, Sofia, Ruse and Veliko Tarnovo, while Montana is the municipality with the lowest local taxes. However, for the first time the share that the capital contributes to the GDP of the country has decreased - from 43% last year, it is now 41%. Economists attribute this to higher energy prices paid by businesses. Silistra and Dobrich remain the regions with the lowest growth and this further widens the differences in income and quality of life in the compared districts, the authors of the report point out.

The trends are better, but this does not apply equally to the regions, Zornitsa Slavova, senior expert at IME, pointed out to Radio Bulgaria.

Zornitsa Slavova, senior expert at IME
"We also see growth in the faster developing cities, such as Stara Zagora, Plovdiv, Varna, while at the other pole are Vidin, Silistra, Montana, Dobrich, where incomes are growing much more slowly, including the standard of living for people. The labour market is clearly at its peak there as well, but this is having a lesser economic impact because of an ageing population. There is not a high proportion of people of working age and there is not much investment. Investment is booming in Sofia district, which acts as the industrial periphery of the capital. Sofia district has the highest GDP growth per capita and leads in output per employee in the industry. Coastal cities Varna and Burgas develop mainly thanks to tourism. There are also a lot of people with higher education, this determines the high economic activity and therefore a developed labour market. But the contribution of employment in tourism remains the strongest."

Regions in Bulgaria are increasing their population despite the negative natural growth.

This year, each of the districts has increased its population, i.e. has a positive mechanical growth, which is reported as a positive trend in the IME report, which has been published for 13 years now. There is a trend of attracting Bulgarians from abroad and even foreigners, but at the same time, the natural growth everywhere is negative. Sofia attracts people from all over the country because of the better labour market and twice the average salaries for the country. Kardzhali and the capital are the districts with the highest mechanical population growth, with Kardzhali district seeing the return of migrants from Turkey, the IME report also states.

"Fewer children are born than people die - population decline is a problem. In less developed economies, labour capital is the most important for investments. We see an increase in investments here, even in Sofia unemployment is very small, it is as much as people change jobs, but the problems with structural unemployment remain. 

Education is also part of the regional profiles - it plays a key role in some regions and has a strong negative impact on investments and businesses. It is not always mandatory to have university graduates, because they are more likely to be associated with high-tech production, and in fact, industry is the one that plays a leading role in smaller regions - for example, Vratsa, Stara Zagora, Pazardzhik. But there is also a population there with a fairly low level of education. Here we also report a high share of poor grades from the external assessment of school pupils in Bulgarian language and mathematics, and we cannot help but take into account the large discrepancy between vocational education and the profile of local economies. 


An example is the increase in academic admissions in specialties related to the IT sector. Yes, but it is developed only in Sofia, Varna, Plovdiv. And for example, these specialists from the Smolyan region have to find work in another area if they want to develop in their specialty. And one more thing – the industry around Plovdiv and the mining industry in the Srednogorie region provide well-being to entire municipalities. There, salaries are better, more jobs are created, and there is more investment in these places. The industry as a whole pulls the economy of the municipalities forward, and this is also a driver for the economy of entire regions.

The country's advantage is still the low taxes - corporate and income. However, the mantra of cheap labour no longer works in attracting investors, so the question remains what to do with the available human capital:


"In Bulgaria, first of all, there is no focus on qualification and further training. And secondly, new Eurostat data show that lifelong learning in Bulgaria is the lowest in the entire EU – 1.4% of people have completed some kind of training course, for comparison in the Nordic countries it is around 30%. Without qualification and requalification and given the structural unemployment in the country, it will be difficult for us to attract investments."

The group of economically inactive and discouraged Bulgarians continues to be large, and it is precisely for them that requalification courses and career guidance consultations should be provided, but this is not being done, despite several strategies written in this direction, Zornitsa Slavova concludes.

Read also:


Photos: Institute for Market Economics, BGNES, Pixabay
]]> Economy Tue, 19 Nov 2024 11:51:06 +0200 "Anise Days" with B.T.R. https://bnr.bg/en/post/102076964/anise-days-with-btr 102076964

The "30 Years of B.T.R." tour, which one of the most significant rock bands in Bulgaria celebrates its anniversary with, will end with two concerts in Hall 1 of the National Palace of Culture. Due to the great interest in the concert on November 20, a second date has also been announced - November 21. For the frontman of the band, Atanas Penev, this is a great achievement, as he cannot remember a Bulgarian rock band that performed two consecutive concerts in Hall 1 of the National Palace of Culture. The celebrations of the anniversary that also included a the long-awaited European tour started back in 2023 and are ending now.

A surprise awaits the band's fans as the first live album of B.T.R. will also have its premiere. It was recorded last year in the National Palace of Culture, when together with their friends from the Konstantin Kisimov Music and Drama Theater - Veliko Tarnovo, under the baton of Georgi Patrikov, they had a concert with a symphony orchestra. B.T.R.'s desire was to recreate as closely as possible the feeling that everyone had. The first copies of the album will be available on November 20 and 21 in the National Palace of Culture.

Nasko Penev told us more about what to expect from the two concerts, which include songs from the entire music path of B.T.R.:

"We decided to be rawer on stage like back when we started. Of course, our friends Yasen Velchev on the keyboards and Dobromir Polikov with the second guitar will also be on stage. I will announce that Mariana Popova will also come for a song that we recorded together with her. Let's not forget our fifth unofficial member – Alexander Filchev aka Sanetsa, who will sing one or more songs. He has been with us for over 25 years… So for the last five years we have been wondering how to make a song for him that will ‘officialize’ him as a member of B.T.R."


Sanetsa takes part in B.T.R.'s newest single called "Anise Days". The music is by the guitarist in the band Slavcho Nikolov, while the lyrics were written by Iliyan Dikov – B.T.R.’s drummer.

The song brings back the serene feeling of summer evenings with friends by the fire. B.T.R. may be celebrating its 30th anniversary, but Nasko, Slavcho, Ivan and Iliyan remain four boys in love with rock.

Photos: Facebook /B.T.R, YouTube /B.T.R. Online

]]> Music Tue, 19 Nov 2024 11:34:29 +0200 No one has requested support from DPS-New Beginning for the election of National Assembly Speaker https://bnr.bg/en/post/102076932/no-one-has-requested-support-from-dps-new-beginning-for-the-election-of-national-assembly-speaker 102076932 Yordan Tsonev

DPS-New Beginning MP Yordan Tsonev said in an interview with BNT that no one has requested support from their party for the election of National Assembly Speaker. Yordan Tsonev criticized We Continue the Change- Democratic Bulgaria for violating a long-standing parliamentary tradition that the Speaker of the National Assembly should come from the largest political force and added that early elections are becoming increasingly likely. 

The MP emphasized that his colleagues want a regular government, but if early elections are held, DPS - New Beginning will achieve a better result.


]]> Politics Tue, 19 Nov 2024 10:59:45 +0200 Football: Bulgaria qualifies for a playoff for the Nation’s League second division https://bnr.bg/en/post/102076920/football-bulgaria-qualifies-for-a-playoff-for-the-nations-league-second-division 102076920

The Bulgarian national football team drew 1-1 with Belarus in the final round of the group stage of the Nations League. Vasil Panayotov scored for Bulgaria in the 13th minute. Yury Kovalev from Belarus equalized in the 70th minute. Bulgaria finished second in the group with 9 points, while Belarus ended in third place with 7 points.

On March 20 and 23 next year, Bulgaria will play a playoff for promotion to the Nation’s League second division- League B.

The draw for the playoffs will take place on Friday, November 22. Bulgaria's likely opponents are Ireland, Slovenia and two other teams that will be determined today.

]]> Sport Tue, 19 Nov 2024 10:42:00 +0200 Bulgaria calls for protective measures against the import of Ukrainian honey https://bnr.bg/en/post/102076884/bulgaria-calls-for-protective-measures-against-the-import-of-ukrainian-honey 102076884 Georgi Tahov

During a meeting of the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels, Caretaker Minister of Agriculture and Food Georgi Tahov called for protective measures against the import of Ukrainian honey into Bulgaria. Romania supported Bulgaria’s call for regulation of Ukrainian honey, which enters the European market at very low prices and in significant quantities. This puts serious pressure on the prices of Bulgarian honey and complicates the marketing of local production. According to statistics, the quantity of honey imported from Ukraine to Bulgaria from January to October 2024 is more than 30% higher compared to the same period last year. The situation on the egg market in Bulgaria is similar due to the sharp increase in the imports of Ukrainian eggs.

During his visit to Brussels, at the invitation of the Minister of Agriculture of Hungary, Minister Tahov participated in a meeting with the agriculture ministers of Member States near the border with Ukraine and the Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Vitaliy Koval. During the meeting, the ministers discussed the upcoming proposal by the European Commission to amend Article 29 of Ukrainе’s Association Agreement with EU. 

]]> News Tue, 19 Nov 2024 10:05:30 +0200 A road accident on Maritsa Motorway has closed traffic towards Türkiye https://bnr.bg/en/post/102076849/a-road-accident-on-maritsa-motorway-has-closed-traffic-towards-turkiye 102076849

A collission between two heavy trucks has closed traffic on the Maritsa Motorway in the direction of Türkiye, BTA reported. According to information from the Haskovo Traffic Police, the incident occurred at kilometer 103 around 4:00 am this morning. 

According to initial reports, a trailer blocked the roadway, and a truck coming from behind crashed into it. The truck driver was injured and taken to a hospital in Edirne.


]]> News Tue, 19 Nov 2024 09:26:12 +0200 The Bulgarian Land Forces celebrate their holiday https://bnr.bg/en/post/102076841/the-bulgarian-land-forces-celebrate-their-holiday 102076841 The Captain's Memorial

The Bulgarian Land Forces are celebrating their holiday today. A statement from the Ministry of Defense's press center notes that November 19, 2024 marks 139 years since the glorious victory at Slivnitsa and 146 years since the establishment of the Bulgarian Land Forces. November 19 was designated as the holiday of the Land Forces by decision of the Council of Ministers in 1992 and by order of the Minister of Defense in the same year. It commemorates the first major victory of the army after the restoration of the Bulgarian state in 1878. On November 19, 1885, the Bulgarian infantry fought the decisive battle at Slivnitsa during the Serbo-Bulgarian War. This victory defended the act of Unification between Eastern Rumelia and the Principality of Bulgaria and the right of the Bulgarian people to live united and free.

The anniversary will be marked with a wreath laying and a flower laying ceremony at the Captain’s Memorial in Slivnitsa, the Ministry of Defense said. Traditionally, the command of the Land Forces, servicemen and veterans will follow in the footsteps of the Slivnitsa heroes, from the Captain’s Memorial to the memorial complex "Heroes of Slivnitsa" in the center of the town, where wreaths and flowers will be laid at 11:00 am. The march will continue to the Mother Bulgaria Pantheon near the village of Gurgulyat. Bulgaria's President Rumen Radev, who is also Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, will receive the guard of honor, deliver a speech and pay tribute to those who died in the Serbo-Bulgarian War of 1885. Military personnel and civilian employees from the Land Forces will be awarded for their high professionalism and responsibility in carrying out their duties. Deputy Minister of Defense Radostin Iliev and the Deputy Chief of Defense Lieutenant-General Mihail Popov will also attend the celebrations.


]]> History and religion Tue, 19 Nov 2024 09:17:00 +0200 "Ten Great Friends of Bulgaria" tells about foreigners who left their mark on Bulgarian history The book by journalist Milena Dimitrova to be presented in Sofia https://bnr.bg/en/post/102076748/ten-great-friends-of-bulgaria-tells-about-foreigners-who-left-their-mark-on-bulgarian-history 102076748

The book "Ten Great Friends of Bulgaria" by journalist Milena Dimitrova will be presented this evening at 6pm at the Sts. Cyril and Methodius National Library in Sofia. The book recounts the lives of ten people of different nationalities and eras, whose selfless love for Bulgaria and its people changed their destinies and left its mark on Bulgarian history.

Among the protagonists of the book is Prince Alexander I Battenberg (1857-1893), born in Verona, who became the first monarch of the Third Bulgarian State. He is credited with the unification of the Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia, an important step towards national reunification after Bulgaria's liberation from Ottoman rule. 

Another notable figure was the Russian general Ivan Inzov (1768-1845), who headed the Trusteeship Committee for Foreign Immigrants of the Southern Territory of Russia in 1818 and played a key role in organising the Bulgarian colonies in Bessarabia. In 1821 he also founded Bolgrad, now the unofficial capital of the Bulgarians in Ukraine.
The book also draws attention to Emily Ann Strangford (1826-1887), an English noblewoman who came to Bulgaria after the violent suppression of the April Uprising in 1876. Strangford used the nearly £30,000 she raised to establish six hospitals in the worst affected areas, providing vital aid to the population.

]]> History and religion Tue, 19 Nov 2024 08:40:39 +0200 European poetry back on the Metro Ninth edition of the initiative celebrates friendship https://bnr.bg/en/post/102076753/european-poetry-back-on-the-metro 102076753

The ninth edition of the initiative Poetry in the Metro opens today and lasts until 23 December. The project was initiated by the Polish Cultural Institute in Sofia.


It includes poems by 20 European writers. They will be displayed on panels in the carriages and stations of the Sofia metro, both in Bulgarian and in the original language. The theme of this year's edition is friendship.


The official opening will take place at the Polish Institute at 18.30. Among the authors included in the project are Petya Kokudeva /Bulgaria/, Shota Rustaveli /Georgia/, Gianni Rodari /Italy/, Anna Świrszczyńska /Poland/, Nikola Majirov /North Macedonia/ and many others.

]]> Culture Tue, 19 Nov 2024 08:15:13 +0200 Historian Matthew Sears talks about the influence of Thracian heritage on ancient Athens The Getty Museum is hosting a free webinar https://bnr.bg/en/post/102076591/historian-matthew-sears-talks-about-the-influence-of-thracian-heritage-on-ancient-athens 102076591

The Getty Museum in Los Angeles, USA, is hosting a webinar today entitled Who Were the Thracians? Professor of Classical and Ancient History Matthew Sears will discuss the Thracian legacy and its influence on ancient Athens. Sears is the author of Athens, Thrace, and the Shaping of Athenian Leadership and many other books.


The lecture accompanies the exhibition Ancient Thrace and the Classical World: Treasures from Bulgaria, Romania and Greece, which explores the cultural relationships between the Thracians and their neighbours over two millennia (c. 1700 BC - 300 AD) and will be on display at the museum from 3 November 2024 to 3 March 2025. 


The web seminar will take place at 12pm PT on the Zoom platform. Attendance is free, but registration is required on the museum's website.

]]> History and religion Tue, 19 Nov 2024 07:10:57 +0200 Why Do Streets in Prague Bear the Names of Bulgarian Awakeners? The project "The Bulgarian Trace in Prague – Awakener" was officially presented https://bnr.bg/en/post/102076755/why-do-streets-in-prague-bear-the-names-of-bulgarian-enlighteners 102076755 Silvia Krasteva

Awakener/enlightener - a person who, through his actions, ideas or creative work, awakens the spirit of the people, preserves and spreads national identity, culture and education. In Bulgarian history, this term is most often associated with the period of the National Revival (18th-19th centuries) and the names of teachers, writers, clergymen and revolutionaries - this is how ChatGPT defines the words "enlightener" and "awakener" today.

For every Bulgarian, however, "awakener" has a much more intimate and emotional meaning. National heroes such as Hristo Botev and Vasil Levski, writers and public figures such as Lyuben Karavelov, Ivan Vazov, Pencho Slaveykov and Georgi Gospodinov are the bearers of the invisible thread that binds together Bulgarians' national consciousness and pride - a thread that runs from the past, through the present, to the vision of a bright future.

In the month of the National Awakener Day - November 1, the Association of the Bulgarian Orthodox Community in the Czech Republic officially presented its new project "The Bulgarian Trace in Prague - Awakeners". 


On November 15, the exhibition "National Awakeners" was opened in the ceremonial hall of the Municipal Office of the Prague 12 district. In addition, four information plaques were placed under the names of streets in Prague's Modřany district, honoring Bulgarian personalities and places.


"Our association "Bulgarian Orthodox Community", of which I am the chairperson, unites Bulgarians who have actually been here for many years. They all had a dream about the neighbourhood, where several streets are named after Bulgarian enlighteners and places connected in some way with the Czech intelligentsia who came to Bulgaria after the Liberation to help rebuild the new Bulgarian state. We decided to put up information signs on these streets to explain not only to the younger generation, but to people in general, where these names come from and why they are named after Bulgarians and Bulgarian towns," engineer Silvia Krasteva told Radio Bulgaria.


Of course, we should not forget the great role of the so-called Bulgarian gardeners in modern Czech history, who founded a whole community of Bulgarian Czechs, to which Silvia Krasteva belongs. There is more to that. It turns out that in the 1970s a Bulgarian brigade of builders was employed in the construction of the Modřany district. In their honour, the then Prague Municipal Council issued a decree naming several streets after Bulgarian enlighteners and the cities in Bulgaria where the Czech community was strongest at the time - Shumen, Pleven, Sofia and Plovdiv.


Today, there are 20 places in Prague that have Bulgaria in their name.

"We started with four plaques, which are the first steps. They are for Sofia Square, Hristo Botev Square, Vasil Levski Square and Ivan Vazov Square. We officially unveiled these plaques with the Bulgarian ambassador to the Czech Republic, H.E. Dancho Michev. This is only one part of the project. The other part involves children of Bulgarian origin who live here - some of them were born here and go to local schools. The children have made interactive folders, we call them lapbooks, with information about each of the Bulgarian Awakeners or cities that gave names to streets and squares in Prague. The boards are very beautiful, made with a lot of love. I am proud that we can present nine of them at the exhibition "National Enlighteners".


And the little Bulgarians who took part in the making of these panels received special prizes at the opening of the exhibition, provided by the Executive Agency for Bulgarians Abroad.
The Bulgarian trace in the Czech Republic is still very visible today:


The chairperson of the Bulgarian Orthodox Community in the Czech Republic, Sylvia Krasteva, says that every year Bulgarians get together and celebrate Christmas and New Year together. Unfortunately, since 2022 the Association has no premises, so a new tradition was born - visiting Bulgarian associations in other European countries.


This year the Association will also participate in the Christmas and New Year's market in the Prague 12 district of the Czech capital. On 7 December, our compatriots are organising a workshop for children, where they will learn how to make a survachka - a decorated dogwood branch used by children visiting homes in the first hours of the New Year. And in 2025, Silvia Krasteva hopes that the number of information signs about "Bulgarian streets" in Prague will increase.


Photos: Silvia Krasteva
Publication in English: E. Radkova
]]> Culture Mon, 18 Nov 2024 21:33:32 +0200