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

Yablanovo and Filaretovo honour victims of communist assimilation campaign

Photo: desehistory.com

The villages of Yablanovo and Filaretovo will today hold a memorial ceremony for the victims of the forced renaming of Bulgarian Turks during the so-called "revival process" a campaign of forced assimilation under communism, in which people of Turkish origin were ordered to change their names to Bulgarian.

On 17, 18 and 19 January 1985, riots broke out in Yablanovo, with local people blocking the roads to the village. The riots were put down after the intervention of armoured troops from the Third Bulgarian Army. Eight people died, including a baby, hundreds were beaten and arrested, and 517 residents were sent to the Belene concentration camp.
Four decades after the crimes against the Bulgarian Turks, there have been no convictions.



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

SURVEY: 37.4% of Bulgarians agree with the formula of the new government

37.4% of adult Bulgarians strongly agree with the formula of the new government. Another 21.4% accept it, but not strongly. 16.5% somewhat disagree and 20.8% disagree. The rest find it difficult to answer.  Thus, the government of Rosen Zhelyazkov,..

published on 1/17/25 4:30 PM
Stanislav Stoyanov

MEP Stoyanov to lead Europe of Sovereign Nations group, Vazrazhdane party announces

Stanislas Stoyanov, a member of the European Parliament from Vazrazhdane, has been elected chair of the Europe of Sovereign Nations (ESN) political group within the European Parliament, according to a statement from the Vazrazhdane press office...

published on 1/17/25 4:18 PM

Bulgaria's pavilion at the 2025 Berlin International Green Week showcases premium traditional products

Bulgaria is participating with its national pavilion at the largest international exhibition for food, agriculture and horticulture, the 2025 Berlin International Green Week.  The Bulgarian delegation to the event was led by Deputy Ministers of..

published on 1/17/25 3:16 PM