[ad_1]
Some of the “coup plotters” speak in writing
Georgi Atanasov and Georgi Yordanov are the last living Mohicans of the top leadership of the Bulgarian Communist Party and the state before 1989.
More recently, Atanasov was a member of the Politburo and Prime Minister. More recently, Yordanov was a candidate for Politburo member and Minister of Culture, Science and Education in the Atanasov government. Vladimir Zhivkov was subordinate to him as head of the Department of Culture of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Bulgaria. Georgi is Vladko’s best man at his wedding to Pleven’s beauty, Marusya Mirchevska.
Georgi Atanasov never spoke in detail, in writing or orally, about the preparation and holding of the plenary session on November 10, 1989, in which Todor Zhivkov was overthrown.
He also declined an interview on my current invitation. He lives with Ani Spancheva, a former Deputy Minister of Education, and he’s not going anywhere.
Georgi Yordanov wrote three volumes with the general title “Hidden Moments”. The third volume, “Turns”, was released a week ago. In it, the author tells new details about the conspiracy of November 10.
One of the main “coup plotters” was Georgi Atanasov, then Maguchiy’s direct boss. Maguchiy is a nickname for Georgi Yordanov, invented by Professor Chavdar Dobrev.
Yordanov almost never misses a cultural event in the capital: a theater premiere, a book presentation, an exhibition, a concert. All are emphatically benevolent towards him.
Here is part of the book “Turns” by Georgi Yordanov, in which he and Atanasov participate in the event that changed Bulgaria and its people.
…The next day (November 3, 1989 – ed. Note) Prime Minister Georgi Atanasov invited me to his office. He wrote on a blank sheet of paper: “Adash, there will be a Politburo meeting these days, where the leadership will resign. I think it’s good to talk.” I shook my head in agreement.
Hours later, Andrei Lukanov asked us to meet. He suggested that we speak in the corridor of the Council of Ministers. He announced that at the meeting between Todor Zhivkov and USSR ambassador Viktor Sharapov, Zhivkov said: “It is better that you resign.” Sharapov replied, “This is an honor for you and it will be a very dignified act.”
A. Lukanov continued: “So at the next Politburo meeting before the plenary session scheduled for November 10, we should expect others. Todor
Живков
officially
to announce
your withdrawal
I hope he also speaks in support of his decision. “
(…) At 4 o’clock in the afternoon in the Georgi Kirkov Hall of the Party House a solemn assembly was held on the occasion of the anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution. The speaker was Grisha Filipov, member of the Politburo and secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Bulgaria. Andrei Lukanov and I were in the second row, right behind Todor Zhivkov and Ambassador Sharapov.
Before the opening of the solemn assembly I noticed a change in the mood of Todor Zhivkov. He was frowning. He greeted the business presidium participants with unusual coolness. I judged that he was deep in thought about the decision to resign, which he announced to the Soviet ambassador.
After the report, USSR Ambassador Viktor Sharapov delivered a welcoming speech. I absentmindedly listened to his speech. At one point, Andrei Lukanov pushed me, leaned over and whispered to me, “Got it? Sharapov didn’t say Comrade Zhivkov’s name at all. “I was scared. This was the first time.
Every public appearance of the leaders of the USSR or their ambassadors in Sofia contained words of praise for our first party and state leader.
Zhivkov frowned outside the meeting. He invited Ambassador Sharapov to follow him for a talk. I also saw the former USSR ambassador to Bulgaria Vladimir Bazovski. We had a close relationship with him. It seemed to me that I had radically changed. (…)
In the afternoon, at 6 in the afternoon, Ambassador Viktor Sharapov gave a grand reception at the USSR embassy. Todor Zhivkov appeared late, accompanied by his granddaughter Jeni Zhivkova. I looked at it closely. For the first time, he was not spiritualized. He barely spoke with those present and left with Ambassador Sharapov. Perhaps due to rumors of his resignation, the reception ended without the usual cheerful atmosphere. (…)
In accordance with strict party discipline and many years of practice, the plenary sessions of the Central Committee reaffirmed the decisions of the Politburo.
This was also the case at the meeting of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Bulgaria, held in House 1 of the Boyana complex. In the book of Revelation, I describe the events of November 10 in detail. I will only remember that in the morning session Todor Zhivkov repeated the main points of the theses for the scheduled plenary session, which were published on October 29 in the daily Rabotnichesko Delo. Only a few comrades spoke.
The meeting
flowed slowly
Rumors of the Politburo’s decision the night before were already known to most of the participants in the high-party forum.
The closed-door meeting of the Central Committee, chaired by Georgi Atanasov, began at 3 pm. Dimitar Stoyanov read the Politburo’s proposal to replace the Secretary General. Several people spoke out in favor of the resignation of T. Zhivkov.
However, academic Nikolai Iribadzhakov proposed, due to the exceptional importance of the post of secretary general, that the final decision be made in twenty days at another meeting of the Central Committee.
It gave him a break. The emotion was extraordinary. Academics Angel Balevski, Georgi Jagarov, and Pantaley Zarev told me that they refused to speak to Todor Zhivkov. Academician Ilcho Dimitrov informed me that Grisha Filipov was campaigning for the same thing. The heroes of socialist labor Radi Kuzmanov, Stefan Rangelov, Konstantin Jatev and Tencho Kanev also refused to speak to Milko Balev.
Georgi Atanasov did not give the floor to Todor Zhivkov. The hitherto unshakable leader found himself in a miserable situation. His head nodded, his lips fell. His wandering gaze expressed surprise, confusion, deep spiritual shock.
He barely heard
grateful
words
and high notes,
that was given to him by his former subordinate Petar Mladenov, who had already replaced him in the highest position.
At the next Politburo meeting of the Central Committee of the Bulgarian Communist Party, the new Secretary General Petar Mladenov proposed that we decide to provide Todor Zhivkov with a service villa in Boyana, a car and a driver, an assistant, security and two people for services health and domestic. Your pension must be equal to the salary you receive as President of the State Council of the People’s Republic of Bulgaria.
The immediate release of Todor Zhivkov turned into a powerful political and informational explosion. It continues to be written and told who and when heard the big news, which sparked an unprecedented response and strong public enthusiasm in the capital and across the country.
November 10 became a great political event, a historical event. For three decades, truths and fabrications have circulated about the profound turn in leadership of the ruling party and the state.
Subsequently, to this day, many people, equally mediocre and shy, boast of themselves as brave fighters against Todor Zhivkov and the previous government. New emerging leaders in the MRF continue to boast that the removal of T. Zhivkov is due to the reaction of the Turkish ethnic group against the reactivation process …
Deserved rest without
right of appeal
Facing the fallen curtain (the end of the plenary session) there was only Todor Zhivkov from the village of Pravets, who had collapsed under the weight of his age and the weight of power. And Georgi Atanasov, 56, from the village of Pravoslaven, who neglected his future. There was nothing more to say to us after final comments not recorded in the presidium.
Valentin Karamanchev
– George, it would be good if you gave me the floor to say something.
– You’ve already talked for 2 hours. He can’t take it anymore.
“Okay, okay, as you say …”
They walked silently on their backs. One “of deserved rest without right to recourse.” The other – to “undeserved rest without the right to hope …”.
Excerpt from Valentin Karamanchev’s book “Sack of Flour”, who attended the plenary session. The author is a long-time head of book publishing in Bulgaria.
[ad_2]
