site.btaPM on Day of Homage to Victims of Communism: History Must Be Remembered, as Oblivion Breeds Tyrannies

Since 2011, February 1 has been marked in Bulgaria as a Day of Gratitude and Homage to the Victims of the Communist Regime, as the largest single spate of executions in Bulgarian history was carried out on this date 80 years ago. On Saturday, the Facebook page of the Council of Ministers quoted Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov as saying that Bulgarians have a duty of remembering their history, because oblivion breeds new tyrannies.

"Freedom and democracy are never a given - they are the responsibility of every generation," Zhelyazkov added.

The Facebook post reads: "On February 1, 1945, three regents of the king, 67 MPs, ministers, officers, public figures, intellectuals and clergymen were shot to death by the so-called People's Court. We bow to the victims of communism."

The date has been marked officially as the Day of Gratitude and Homage to the Victims of the Communist Regime since 2011 upon a proposal of the Presidents of Bulgaria Zhelyu Zhelev (1990-1997) and Petar Stoyanov (1997-2002).