site.btaObservances: February 5

On this date in Bulgarian history:  

1878: Russian historian and public activist, Prince Pyotr Alabin, becomes Sofia's first governor after city's liberation from Ottoman rule on January 4, 1878. He helped create a Public Library. He governed Sofia until the election of the first Bulgarian governor of the city Todor Burmov on 18 May 1879.  

1909: Russia is first great power to recognize Bulgaria's independence, declared on September 22, 1908. 

1951: First ballet school, the State School of Choreography, is set up in Sofia by Anastas Petrov with assistance from Russian ballet pedagogue Vladimir Beliy. 

1980: Shumen Plateau National Park, covering an area of 3,929.9 hectares, is declared a protected territory. 

1990: National Intelligence Service is established. 

1992: Diplomatic relations established with Moldova at embassy level. 

2006: World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control enters into force in Bulgaria.