Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Playwright Stefan Tsanev refuses "Golden Age" state award

Photo: BGNES

In a letter to the Bulgarian Minister of Culture, Vezhdi Rashidov, eminent poet, writer and playwright, Stefan Tsanev, thanked for the attention he received but refused to accept the "Golden Age" award which had to be presented on January 10 on the occasion of his 80th birthday, BTA informed.

"Golden Age" is awarded by the Ministry of Culture for outstanding contribution to Bulgarian culture and the development of cultural cooperation. The poet recalled that in 2016 the same award was given to "one of the senior officers of the State Security - the most sinister repressive institution of the former totalitarian regime."

"State Security is to blame for thousands of lost lives, including those of many artists. Giving the highest award of the Ministry of Culture to one of State Security's top executives is a mockery with the memory and suffering of the victims," Stefan Tsanev wrote. In response, Minister Rashidov said there truly was a proposal for giving the award to StefanTsanev, but the minister had not yet signed it.




Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Vice President Iotova: The postponement of the euro area convergence report is not fatal

The postponement of the request for a convergence report on Bulgaria's entry into the Eurozone is not fatal. It is more important to achieve stability in governance, finance and the economy, Vice President Iliana Iotova said.  She participated in the..

published on 2/2/25 4:16 PM
Carlos Contrera

VMRO calls for a boycott of food chains in Bulgaria

The Deputy Chairman of VMRO, Carlos Contrera, called for a boycott of large food chains in Bulgaria ''because of high prices''. His call on Facebook follows the example of a civic boycott of food chains in Croatia, which spread to other Balkan..

published on 2/2/25 12:34 PM

Economists call for an extraordinary convergence report on the introduction of the euro

Economists and financiers have started a petition demanding that a request for an extraordinary convergence report on the introduction of the euro in Bulgaria be submitted no later than February. "If urgent action is not taken by the government for..

published on 2/2/25 11:02 AM