site.btaMembers of Association of Bulgarians around the World Visit Taraclia

Members of the Association of Bulgarians around the World (ABW) visited Bulgarians in Moldova's Taraclia District, BTA learned from Stepan Karamalak, Head of the District's External Relations Service. They met with Taraclia District Chairman Lazar Dermenji on the initiative of ABW President Mladen Stanev in connection with the renovation of the house-museum of the hero of Taraclia native Olimpiy Panov (1852-1887).

Panov participated in Bulgaria's national liberation movement between 1872 and 1874 and artillery commander during the Serbo-Bulgarian War of 1885. He was sentenced to death by firing squad for attempting to join a military coup against Prince Alexander I of Battenberg.

Karamalak said the delegation visited Panov's house, which recently became a museum. The house is in need of urgent repairs. "They said the main purpose of the visit was to assess the condition of the house and the cost of its renovation, and promised to find a way to implement the project," Karamalak said. 

The ABW bought Major Panov's house from a private owner in 2023. The conversion of the house into a museum was funded by donors and the local authorities, the purpose being to preserve the cultural heritage of Bessarabian Bulgarians.

The tuk.md portal said in 2023 that the renovation would cost about BGN 100,000 and BGN 2,000 to 3,000 would be needed every month for the museum's maintenance.

The museum will feature a replica of the sword Panov received from Prince Alexander I for services during the Serbo-Bulgarian War.

The Bulgarian delegation visited several other monuments in the town of Tvardița and the village of Corten in Taraclia District.