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.