On August 5, 1998, Todor Zhivkov died. The same day, the authorities announced that they were changing the money.
He was the chairman of the State Council of the NRB (1971-1989), first secretary (from 1954) and general secretary (1981-1989) of the Central Committee of the BKP. By decision of the Central Committee of the BKP, he was removed from the composition of the Central Committee of the BKP (December 8, 1989); excluded from the BKP (December 13, 1989).
On September 4, 1992, the Supreme Court of Bulgaria sentenced him to 7 years in prison for illegally distributing money for representative needs of the state apparatus, for housing, cars, etc. Sentenced to return BGN 21,010,380 to the state.
On February 9, 1996, the General Assembly of the criminal panels of the Supreme Court recognized Zhivkov as a former head of state and closed the case against him.
Deprived of special charisma or higher education, Todor Zhivkov turns out to be one of the longest-reigning communist leaders - 33 years. A man of the people who loves simple folk dishes and dancing, Zhivkov does not irritate with unnecessary luxury, notes izzi.bg.
He prefers to take out his opponents carefully without making enemies. As soon as he came to power, all camps in the country were permanently closed. His rivals are sent to good offices far from power. This is also one of the reasons why there is no strong dissatisfaction against his personality.
From 1956, Todor Zhivkov took over the leadership of the BKP, and the post of prime minister was occupied by Anton Yugov. Gradually, Zhivkov managed to remove his rivals for power – first Georgi Chankov, then Valko Chervenkov and others. At the end of 1962, he managed to master the post of prime minister. Supported by Moscow, the path to his sole power is open.
On May 16, 1971, a new constitution of the NRB was adopted through a referendum.
Bulgaria has been declared a socialist state, in which the BKP has a leading role, and Todor Zhivkov is at the helm.
In the 1980s, Bulgaria's planned socialist economy fell into crisis. Goods and food are disappearing from the market, the current regime has been introduced. Dissatisfaction in society is growing.
In 1985, new Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev announced a program of reforms called “perestroika”. It is aimed at replacing the old communist leaders in the socialist bloc in Eastern Europe. In 1984 – In 1985, the regime forced Bulgarian Turks to change their Turkish-Arabic names to Bulgarian. The "Renaissance Process" campaign begins. It culminated in 1989, when over 300,000 people were forcibly deported to Turkey.
At the beginning of the 1980s, an ecological movement for clean air arose in Ruse. Accumulated problems and dissatisfaction forced the Communist Party to overthrow Todor Zhivkov on November 10, 1989.