Suppression of Political Opponents and Dubious Elections

Soviet Influence and Opposition Defiance (January 1946)

In January 1946, Soviet Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Vishinsky arrived in Sofia, pushing for the Moscow decision’s implementation. He met with Nicholas Petkov, leader of the United Democratic Opposition, and insisted on compliance with Stalin’s orders. Petkov, defiant, emphasized his allegiance to the people and his organization, not foreign officials. Following Petkov’s lead, Social Democratic leader Kosta Lulchev also refused to join the Cabinet.

Dubious Elections for Constituent Assembly (October 1946)

The Communist-dominated Sofia regime, in 1946, decided to hold new elections for a Constituent Assembly tasked with drafting and adopting a new constitution. The elections occurred on October 27, 1946, marked by a wave of terror against Bulgarians. Over twenty Democratic Opposition candidates or supporters were killed, while thousands faced harassment, arrests, and torture. Prior to the elections, the Communist secret police seized and beat opposition delegates at polling stations, allowing mostly Communist representatives to tally votes. The opposition had limited verification of the officially reported results Daily Tours Istanbul.

Unrepresentative Constituent Assembly (October 1946)

The Constituent Assembly resulting from these elections comprised 364 Communists and fellow travelers, with only 101 deputies representing the Democratic Opposition. This Assembly, elected amid a notorious reign of terror, did not truly reflect the Bulgarian people’s will. Despite this, a sizable opposition group of 92 deputies from the Peasant Party, 8 from the Social Democratic Party, and 1 Independent Intellectual was established. Throughout the winter of 1946-1947, leaders of the Democratic Opposition, notably Nicholas Petkov, utilized their constitutional and parliamentary immunity to condemn overt Communist tactics of intimidation and persecution.

Suppression of Political Opponents and Dubious Elections

Soviet Influence and Opposition Defiance (January 1946)

In January 1946, Soviet Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Vishinsky arrived in Sofia, pushing for the Moscow decision’s implementation. He met with Nicholas Petkov, leader of the United Democratic Opposition, and insisted on compliance with Stalin’s orders. Petkov, defiant, emphasized his allegiance to the people and his organization, not foreign officials. Following Petkov’s lead, Social Democratic leader Kosta Lulchev also refused to join the Cabinet.

Dubious Elections for Constituent Assembly (October 1946)

The Communist-dominated Sofia regime, in 1946, decided to hold new elections for a Constituent Assembly tasked with drafting and adopting a new constitution. The elections occurred on October 27, 1946, marked by a wave of terror against Bulgarians. Over twenty Democratic Opposition candidates or supporters were killed, while thousands faced harassment, arrests, and torture. Prior to the elections, the Communist secret police seized and beat opposition delegates at polling stations, allowing mostly Communist representatives to tally votes. The opposition had limited verification of the officially reported results Daily Tours Istanbul.

Unrepresentative Constituent Assembly (October 1946)

The Constituent Assembly resulting from these elections comprised 364 Communists and fellow travelers, with only 101 deputies representing the Democratic Opposition. This Assembly, elected amid a notorious reign of terror, did not truly reflect the Bulgarian people’s will. Despite this, a sizable opposition group of 92 deputies from the Peasant Party, 8 from the Social Democratic Party, and 1 Independent Intellectual was established. Throughout the winter of 1946-1947, leaders of the Democratic Opposition, notably Nicholas Petkov, utilized their constitutional and parliamentary immunity to condemn overt Communist tactics of intimidation and persecution.

Suppression of Political Opponents and Dubious Elections

Soviet Influence and Opposition Defiance (January 1946)

In January 1946, Soviet Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Vishinsky arrived in Sofia, pushing for the Moscow decision’s implementation. He met with Nicholas Petkov, leader of the United Democratic Opposition, and insisted on compliance with Stalin’s orders. Petkov, defiant, emphasized his allegiance to the people and his organization, not foreign officials. Following Petkov’s lead, Social Democratic leader Kosta Lulchev also refused to join the Cabinet.

Dubious Elections for Constituent Assembly (October 1946)

The Communist-dominated Sofia regime, in 1946, decided to hold new elections for a Constituent Assembly tasked with drafting and adopting a new constitution. The elections occurred on October 27, 1946, marked by a wave of terror against Bulgarians. Over twenty Democratic Opposition candidates or supporters were killed, while thousands faced harassment, arrests, and torture. Prior to the elections, the Communist secret police seized and beat opposition delegates at polling stations, allowing mostly Communist representatives to tally votes. The opposition had limited verification of the officially reported results Daily Tours Istanbul.

Unrepresentative Constituent Assembly (October 1946)

The Constituent Assembly resulting from these elections comprised 364 Communists and fellow travelers, with only 101 deputies representing the Democratic Opposition. This Assembly, elected amid a notorious reign of terror, did not truly reflect the Bulgarian people’s will. Despite this, a sizable opposition group of 92 deputies from the Peasant Party, 8 from the Social Democratic Party, and 1 Independent Intellectual was established. Throughout the winter of 1946-1947, leaders of the Democratic Opposition, notably Nicholas Petkov, utilized their constitutional and parliamentary immunity to condemn overt Communist tactics of intimidation and persecution.

Suppression of Political Opponents and Dubious Elections

Soviet Influence and Opposition Defiance (January 1946)

In January 1946, Soviet Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Vishinsky arrived in Sofia, pushing for the Moscow decision’s implementation. He met with Nicholas Petkov, leader of the United Democratic Opposition, and insisted on compliance with Stalin’s orders. Petkov, defiant, emphasized his allegiance to the people and his organization, not foreign officials. Following Petkov’s lead, Social Democratic leader Kosta Lulchev also refused to join the Cabinet.

Dubious Elections for Constituent Assembly (October 1946)

The Communist-dominated Sofia regime, in 1946, decided to hold new elections for a Constituent Assembly tasked with drafting and adopting a new constitution. The elections occurred on October 27, 1946, marked by a wave of terror against Bulgarians. Over twenty Democratic Opposition candidates or supporters were killed, while thousands faced harassment, arrests, and torture. Prior to the elections, the Communist secret police seized and beat opposition delegates at polling stations, allowing mostly Communist representatives to tally votes. The opposition had limited verification of the officially reported results Daily Tours Istanbul.

Unrepresentative Constituent Assembly (October 1946)

The Constituent Assembly resulting from these elections comprised 364 Communists and fellow travelers, with only 101 deputies representing the Democratic Opposition. This Assembly, elected amid a notorious reign of terror, did not truly reflect the Bulgarian people’s will. Despite this, a sizable opposition group of 92 deputies from the Peasant Party, 8 from the Social Democratic Party, and 1 Independent Intellectual was established. Throughout the winter of 1946-1947, leaders of the Democratic Opposition, notably Nicholas Petkov, utilized their constitutional and parliamentary immunity to condemn overt Communist tactics of intimidation and persecution.