A special exhibition dedicated to the 140th anniversary of the Unification of the Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia has been presented in the Latvian capital, Riga.

“In a most noble way” is the motto of Bulgaria’s Unification of 1885, which was carried out in the name of national unity despite great difficulties and risks, reminds Iskra Boneva, a member of the Latvian-Bulgarian Cultural Society “Cyril and Methodius” in Riga. She devotes much of her free time to preserving the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of the Bulgarian community in Latvia.

“Latvia is a small country with a population of around 2 million people, and the Bulgarian community here is relatively small. Back in 2014, it numbered over 1,000 people. Now it is under 800 people. The trend of decline follows that in Bulgaria itself. In such a small community, a great deal of mobilization is needed, as it is much easier to find like-minded people in larger communities”, Iskra Boneva said in an interview for Radio Bulgaria.

The exhibition in Riga, officially opened on November 6, presents key moments from the Unification of the Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia through 20 panels featuring photographs, paintings and quotes from works by classic Bulgarian authors. It tells the story of the dignity, unity, and heroism shown by the Bulgarian people during the preparation and realization of this pivotal event in the nation’s history.

• Three points of views by Bulgarian historians on the Unification of Bulgaria in 1885

The exhibition is organized by the Latvian-Bulgarian Cultural Society “Cyril and Methodius”, in cooperation with the Regional Museum of History in Plovdiv, and can be visited until November 30, 2025, on the second floor of the NGO House (NVO nams), located at Ieriķu iela 43a, Riga.

Published and translated by Kostadin Atanasov

Photos: Iskra Boneva