Professor Plamen Mitev rejected the claims that Count Nikolay Ignatiev is to blame for the hanging of Vasil Levski. The lecturer in Bulgarian Renaissance at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" defined the speculation on the topic as political manipulation, serving contemporary interests and creating a distorted reading of history.
In recent days, a heated debate has flared up in the public sphere regarding the role of the Russian Empire in the death of the Apostle of Freedom. According to the historian, the accusations against the Russian diplomat have no real historical basis.
"The claim that Count Ignatiev worked for the hanging of Vasil Levski is categorically untrue and manipulated. This talk that he is the murderer of Vasil Levski is talk related to current affairs, to politically correct talk," said Prof. Plamen Mitev, quoted by the Bulgarian National Radio.
In the shadow of this dispute was also the statement of a politician from the past weekend, who resurrected another persistent myth - about the lack of efforts on the part of the Bulgarians to save the national hero.
The expert drew attention to the behavior of the other great powers at the time, emphasizing the fact that Western diplomats had excellent and much earlier information about the course of the trial against the Deacon.
"I listen with great interest to the arguments of all those who accuse Gen. Ignatiev. Why did none of them ask themselves the question - well, why do we expect Gen. Ignatiev to save Levski, and we don't ask the same question about the behavior of the English ambassador or the French, or the Italian, or the Austro-Hungarian, or the German?", the scholar asked rhetorically.
He emphasized that the foreign consuls maintained extremely close relations with the Ruse governor Hamdi Pasha and were aware of all the actions of the Special Commission.
Prof. Mitev also shattered the imposed thesis about the passivity of the Bulgarians after the capture of Levski. According to his research of the era, there is categorical evidence for the organization of several real attempts to release him.
The full analysis of historical events and the role of diplomacy in the 19th century will be presented in the entire interview with Prof. Plamen Mitev. It will be broadcast in the program "Night Horizon" on the Bulgarian National Radio on April 1.