ПРОГРАМИ
en de ru fr es sr gr al tr ro
Podcast in English
Share
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.
Radio Bulgaria News    assimilation filaretovo revival process turks victims yablanovo

More from category

Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov supports the peace plan for Ukraine

“Borders cannot be changed by force, and Ukraine’s long-term security must be guaranteed”, Bulgaria’s Premier Rossen Zhelyazkov said during a videoconference meeting of the “Coalition of the Willing”, led by French President Emmanuel Macron and UK..

published on 11/26/25 8:57 AM

Bulgaria and China discuss cooperation in the automotive sector

Business forum on the topic "Bulgaria - China: cooperation in the automotive sector" is being held on November 26 in Sofia. Its organizers are the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Embassy of the People's Republic of..

published on 11/26/25 7:30 AM

Draft budget 2026 sparks protests

The Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association has called for participation in a protest on November 26 against the budget for 2026, which is about to be adopted at second reading. "We call not only our members, but also all..

published on 11/26/25 6:50 AM

WEATHER
Pick city: Sofía
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -3 | Max: 10
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 3 | Max: 12
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 5 | Max: 12
Cloudy
Min: -2 | Max: 8
Partly Cloudy
Min: 5 | Max: 12
Partly Cloudy
Min: 0 | Max: 13
Partly Cloudy
Min: -4 | Max: 11
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 10
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 0 | Max: 10
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -4 | Max: 10
Partly Cloudy
Min: 3 | Max: 12
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 3 | Max: 10
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -2 | Max: 11
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -4 | Max: 8
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 2 | Max: 10
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -3 | Max: 12
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 4 | Max: 10
Cloudy
Min: 0 | Max: 9
Cloudy
Min: 1 | Max: 8
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 1 | Max: 11
Partly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 11
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -2 | Max: 9
Cloudy
Min: -3 | Max: 10
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -3 | Max: 10
Cloudy
Min: 0 | Max: 8
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 1 | Max: 11
Cloudy
Min: -2 | Max: 9
BULGARIA IN PICTURES
Which world-famous Bulgarian artist designed QSL cards for Radio Bulgaria?
Yasen Gyuzelev
Theodore Ushev
Christo Javacheff - Christo
Ilia Peikov
Lika Yanko

BULGARIANS ABROAD

Български English Русский Deutsch Српски Français Ελληνικά Español Shqip Türkçe Română

english@bnr.bg

+359 2 9336 661

Общи условия за използване на сайта | Политика за поверителност | Политика за "бисквитки"