site.btaObservances: December 23

On this date in Bulgarian history:

1901: Safety matches factory in Kostenets goes into operation (since 1998 part of Swedish Match Group).

1933: Imperial Court in Leipzig, Germany, acquits Bulgarian communists Georgi Dimitrov, Blagoi Popov and Vassil Tanev of charges of complicity in Reichstag arson for lack of evidence.

1992: Bulgaria recognizes independence of Czech Republic and Slovak Republic (diplomatic relations with them are established on January 1, 1993).

1997: Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) launches its website.

2005: BBC broadcasts its last radio programme in Bulgarian (first programme went on air on February 7, 1940).