36 years after November 10, 1989 – the date that marked the beginning of democratic changes in Bulgaria – journalist Evgeniy Todorov shared his memories and reflections on those days and the path the country took after that. In the Interview in the NOVA news“ he told how he experienced the historic day and how, in his words, the hopes then were “huge, almost childish“.
“Whether the transition is over or not – this is a long topic. In my opinion, it will not end soon, at least not in the way we imagined its finale. Back then, we believed that it was a matter of days and months before we became another country, living in a new way. The joy was indescribable – 99% of the people, at least in Plovdiv, were happy, hugging each other, believing that everything would change“, Todorov recalls.
He said that he learned about the overthrow of Todor Zhivkov while traveling with his family to Pleven: “Shortly before the news, symphonic music sounded on the radio. Since I worked in radio, I immediately thought that something serious had happened. Then we heard – a plenum of the Central Committee, Zhivkov gave a report, and then "on the second point" – his request was considered. Then we shouted "hurray!" — we realized that the music was not accidental.“
Only a week later, on November 18, 1989, Evgeniy Todorov became the host of the first rally in Plovdiv – an event that he describes as completely spontaneous and full of hope: “Students, intellectuals, ordinary people — were all in the square, happy, with handwritten slogans. I remember one of them — “Words are tired”. Then for the first time we spoke freely, without fear. For the first time we heard the words “democracy” and “multi-party system”. It was an incredible feeling.“
The journalist also shared personal memories of his wife, the late journalist Neri Terzieva, who is also among the emblematic figures of the early 1990s and later became President Stoyanov's press secretary: “She welcomed November 10 with great enthusiasm. She gave a lot for democracy and for Bulgaria's European path. But she left bitter – not only what the country had become, but also the state of journalism. However, he believed in the young. One of our last conversations was: "The hope is in them, not in our generation.’“