site.btaToday's Observances: January 15

On this date in Bulgarian history:

1879: Sofia Public Library (today's National Library), established on December 10, 1878, opens to readers.

1895: Bulgarian poet Geo Milev was born. He was the key exponent of expressionism in Bulgarian literature, journalist, and translator, perhaps best known for his epic poem Septemvri, written in the aftermath of the Communist-led September Uprising. In 1925, Milev was sentenced to 1 year in prison for the poem, and shortly afterwards he was summoned for "routine check" by police and disappeared without a trace.

1937: New electoral law granting married, widowed and divorced women the right to elect (but not the right to be elected) is endorsed by King Boris III.

1992: Bulgaria recognizes independence of Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

1999: Government sets up Encouragement Bank (transformed into Bulgarian Development Bank on April 23, 2008).