100 Notable alumni of
Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski"
Updated:
Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" is 183rd in the world, 63rd in Europe, and 1st in Bulgaria by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 100 notable alumni from Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff.
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Julia Kristeva
- Occupations
- writerpsychoanalystuniversity teacherlinguistphilosopher
- Biography
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Julia Kristeva is a Bulgarian-French philosopher, literary critic, semiotician, psychoanalyst, feminist, and novelist who has lived in France since the mid-1960s. She has taught at Columbia University, and is now a professor emerita at Université Paris Cité. The author of more than 30 books, including Powers of Horror, Tales of Love, Black Sun: Depression and Melancholia, Proust and the Sense of Time, and the trilogy Female Genius, she has been awarded Commander of the Legion of Honor, Commander of the Order of Merit, the Holberg International Memorial Prize, the Hannah Arendt Prize, and the Vision 97 Foundation Prize, awarded by the Havel Foundation.
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Tzvetan Todorov
- Occupations
- essayistliterary criticsociologistphilosophernon-fiction writer
- Biography
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Tzvetan Todorov was a Bulgarian-French historian, philosopher, structuralist literary critic, sociologist and essayist. He was the author of many books and essays, which have had a significant influence in anthropology, sociology, semiotics, literary theory, intellectual history and culture theory.
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Ahmed Dogan
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Ahmed Demir Dogan, is a Turkish Bulgarian oligarch and politician who founded the DPS party in 1990 and remained its leader until he stepped down in 2013.
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Yordan Yovkov
- Enrolled in Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski"
- In 1904 graduated with Bachelor of Laws in law
- Occupations
- prose writerediting staffwriterpoetplaywright
- Biography
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Yordan Stefanov Yovkov was a prominent Bulgarian writer from the interwar period.
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Korneliya Ninova
- Occupations
- politicianjurist
- Biography
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Korneliya Petrova Ninova is a Bulgarian politician, MP from the parliamentary group of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP). She has been the chairwoman of BSP since 8 May 2016.
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Lyudmila Zhivkova
- Occupations
- politicianhistorian
- Biography
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Lyudmila Todorova Zhivkova was a senior Bulgarian Communist Party functionary and Politburo member. She was the daughter of Bulgarian Communist leader Todor Zhivkov, and primarily known for her interest in preserving and promoting Bulgarian arts and culture on the international stage. Zhivkova was also a controversial figure within the former Soviet Bloc because of her interests in esoteric Eastern religion and spirituality.
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Boyan Petrov
- Enrolled in Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski"
- In 1997 graduated with master's degree in ecology and zoology
- Occupations
- mountaineerzoologistspeleologist
- Biography
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Boyan Petrov was a Bulgarian zoologist and mountaineer, who worked at the National Museum of Natural History in Sofia.
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Stoyanka Mutafova
- Occupations
- actor
- Biography
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Stoyanka Mutafova was a Bulgarian actress. During her career, she starred in over 53 theatrical plays and 25 films
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Dimcho Debelyanov
- Occupations
- poettranslatorwritermilitary officer
- Biography
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Dimcho Debelyanov was a Bulgarian poet and author.
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Zhelyu Zhelev
- Occupations
- non-fiction writerpoliticianphilosopher
- Biography
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Zhelyu Mitev Zhelev was a Bulgarian politician and former dissident who served as the first democratically elected and non-Communist President of Bulgaria, from 1990 to 1997. Zhelev was one of the most prominent figures of the 1989 Bulgarian Revolution, which ended the 35 year rule of President Todor Zhivkov. A member of the Union of Democratic Forces, he was elected as President by the 7th Grand National Assembly. Two years later, he won Bulgaria's first direct presidential elections. He lost his party's nomination for his 1996 reelection campaign after losing a tough primary race to Petar Stoyanov.
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Iván Cepeda Castro
- Enrolled in Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski"
- Studied philosophy
- Occupations
- politicianwriterhuman rights activist
- Biography
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Iván Cepeda Castro is a left-wing Colombian politician, human rights activist, and philosopher. The eldest son of the late left-wing politician Manuel Cepeda Vargas, Cepeda has served as a member of the Senate since 2014 for the Alternative Democratic Pole. He previously served in the Chamber of Representatives from 2010 and 2014.
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Geo Milev
- Occupations
- translatorwriterpoetpainterliterary critic
- Biography
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Geo Milev was a Bulgarian poet, translator and journalist. He is perhaps best known for his epic poem Septemvri, written during the Bulgarian September Uprising.
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Ivan Mihailov
- Occupations
- politicianwriter
- Biography
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Ivan Mihaylov Gavrilov, known also by his short name as Vancho Mihaylov (Bulgarian: Ванчо Михайлов; Macedonian: Ванчо Михајлов), was a Bulgarian revolutionary in interwar Macedonia, and the last leader of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (IMRO).
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Georgi Parvanov
- Occupations
- politicianhistorian
- Biography
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Georgi Sedefchov Parvanov is a Bulgarian historian and politician who was President of Bulgaria from 2002 to 2012. He was elected after defeating incumbent Petar Stoyanov in the second round of the November 2001 presidential election. He took office on 22 January 2002. He was reelected in a landslide victory in 2006, becoming the first Bulgarian president to serve two terms. Parvanov supported Bulgaria's entry into NATO and the European Union.
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Iliana Yotova
- Occupations
- politicianjournalist
- Biography
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Iliana Malinova Iotova is a Bulgarian politician who has been serving as Vice President of Bulgaria since 2017. She was the running mate of Rumen Radev, who defeated GERB nominee Tsetska Tsacheva in the second round of the 2016 presidential election. She was a Member of the European Parliament from 2007 until her resignation on 16 January 2017. She speaks Bulgarian, French and English.
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Petar Mladenov
- Occupations
- politiciandiplomat
- Biography
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Petar Toshev Mladenov was a Bulgarian communist diplomat and politician. He was the last leader of the Bulgarian People's Republic from 1989 to 1990, and briefly the first President of the Bulgarian Republic in 1990.
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Georgi Gospodinov
- Occupations
- poetplaywrightwriterscreenwriter
- Biography
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Georgi Gospodinov Georgiev is a Bulgarian writer, poet and playwright. His novel Time Shelter received the 2023 International Booker Prize, shared with translator Angela Rodel, as well as the Strega European Prize. His novel The Physics of Sorrow received the Jan Michalski Prize and the Angelus Award. His works have been translated into 25 languages.
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Dimitar Talev
- Occupations
- journalistchildren's writerwriterpolitician
- Biography
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Dimitar Talev was a Bulgarian writer, journalist, political prisoner, and member of the Bulgarian National Assembly.
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Blaže Koneski
- Occupations
- writerpoliticianuniversity teacherpoettranslator
- Biography
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Blaže Koneski was a Macedonian poet, writer, literary translator, and linguistic scholar.
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Elisaveta Bagriana
- Occupations
- poetliterary editortranslatorwriter
- Biography
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Elisaveta Bagryana, born Elisaveta Lyubomirova Belcheva (Bulgarian: Елисавета Любомирова Белчева), was a Bulgarian poet who wrote her first verses while living with her family in Veliko Tarnovo in 1907–08. She, along with Dora Gabe (1886–1983), is considered one of the "first ladies of Bulgarian women's literature". She was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature three times.
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Bogdan Filov
- Occupations
- university teacherart historiananthropologistarchaeologisthistorian
- Biography
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Bogdan Dimitrov Filov was a Bulgarian archaeologist, art historian and politician. He was prime minister of Bulgaria during World War II. During his tenure, Bulgaria became the seventh nation to join the Axis Powers.
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Hristo Ivanov
- Occupations
- politicianjurist
- Biography
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Hristo Lyubomirov Ivanov is a Bulgarian politician and lawyer. He served as Minister of Justice in the Second Borisov Cabinet before resigning on 9 December 2015. He also served as deputy prime minister and justice minister in the caretaker government of Georgi Bliznashki between 6 August and 7 November 2014. In early 2017 he founded the Yes, Bulgaria! political party whose priorities include institutional reforms, including a reform of the justice system, and anti-corruption efforts.
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Aleksandar Tsankov
- Occupations
- university teacherpoliticianeconomist
- Biography
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Aleksandar Tsolov Tsankov was a leading Bulgarian politician during the interwar period between the two world wars.
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Ivan Krastev
- Occupations
- university teacherwriterpolitical scientist
- Biography
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Ivan Krastev, is a political scientist, the chairman of the Centre for Liberal Strategies in Sofia, permanent fellow at the IWM (Institute of Human Sciences) in Vienna, and 2013-4-17 Richard von Weizsäcker fellow at the Robert Bosch Stiftung in Berlin.
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Dame Gruev
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Damyan Yovanov Gruev was а Bulgarian teacher, revolutionary and insurgent leader in the Ottoman regions of Macedonia and Thrace. He was one of the six founders of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization. Per Macedonian historiography, he was an ethnic Macedonian. He is considered a national hero in Bulgaria and North Macedonia.
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Petar Stoyanov
- Occupations
- politicianlawyerjurist
- Biography
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Petar Stefanov Stoyanov is a Bulgarian politician who served as President of Bulgaria from 1997 to 2002. A member of the Union of Democratic Forces (UDF), he was the party's nominee to succeed one-term president Zhelyu Zhelev in 1996. He was elected to the Presidency in 1996, but lost his reelection bid in 2001. Following a brief retirement from politics, he became an MP in 2005 and later Chairman of UDF from 1 October 2005 to 22 May 2007. He resigned following the 2007 European Parliament election.
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Tsetska Tsacheva
- Occupations
- legal counselorpolitician
- Biography
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Tsetska Tsacheva Dangovska is a Bulgarian politician from GERB and a jurist. She was the Minister of Justice of the Republic of Bulgaria from 4 May 2017 to 5 April 2019. She had previously held the position of Chairwoman of the National Assembly of Bulgaria on two occasions. Tsetska Tsacheva is the first woman to ever chair the National Assembly of Bulgaria since its establishment in 1878.
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Ivan Kostov
- Occupations
- economistpolitician
- Biography
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Ivan Yordanov Kostov was the 47th Prime Minister of Bulgaria in office from May 1997 to July 2001 and leader of the Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) between December 1994 and July 2001.
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Krasimir Karakachanov
- Occupations
- politicianhistorian
- Biography
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Krasimir Donchev Karakachanov is a Bulgarian politician. He was the leader of VMRO from 1991 until 2022.
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Yordanka Fandakova
- Occupations
- politicianschool teacher
- Biography
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Yordanka Asenova Fandakova is a Bulgarian politician and former Mayor of Sofia. She was the first woman to hold this position. She was elected on 15 November 2009, after defeating the Bulgarian Socialist Party contender Georgi Kadiev. Fandakova is a member of the conservative GERB party.
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Atanas Dalchev
- Occupations
- linguisttranslatorpoet
- Biography
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Atanas Hristov Dalchev was a Bulgarian poet, critic and translator. He was among the leading Bulgarian poets of the 1920s and 1930s. Dalchev was also a prominent translator of poetry and fiction from French, Spanish, English, German and Russian authors. He was a recipient of the Herder Prize in 1972 (for his overall literary work) and the Znak Pocheta Order (or Order of the Badge of Honor) in 1967 (for popularisation of Russian culture in Bulgaria).
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Boris Christoff
- Occupations
- opera singermusiciansingeractor
- Biography
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Boris Christoff was a Bulgarian opera singer, widely considered one of the greatest basses of the 20th century.
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Neophyte of Bulgaria
- Occupations
- university teacherpriest
- Biography
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Patriarch Neophyte has been the Patriarch of All Bulgaria, head of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church since 24 February 2013. Prior to his election, he was the Metropolitan Bishop of Ruse (2001–2013) and Bishop of Dorostol and Cherven (1994–2001).
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Georgi Lozanov
- Occupations
- psychologistpsychiatristpedagogue
- Biography
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Georgi Lozanov, known as 'the father of accelerated learning', was a Bulgarian scientist, neurologist, psychiatrist, psychologist and educator, creator of suggestology, suggestopedia (or 'suggestopaedia', an experimental branch of suggestology for use in pedagogy), and integrated psychotherapy.
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Dora Gabe
- Occupations
- teachertheatre criticwritertranslatoressayist
- Biography
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Dora Petrova Gabe was а Bulgarian Jewish poet, writer and translator. She published poetry for adults and children as well as travel books, short stories and essays. In her later years, she also did extensive work in translation.
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Ognyan Gerdzhikov
- Enrolled in Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski"
- Studied law
- Occupations
- lawyerjuristpoliticianuniversity teacher
- Biography
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Ognyan Stefanov Gerdzhikov is a Bulgarian politician and jurist who served as the interim Prime Minister from 27 January 2017 to 4 May 2017, following the resignation of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov and the failure of Bulgarian parties to form a government.
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Valeri Petrov
- Occupations
- diplomatjournalistphysician writerpoetphysician
- Biography
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Valeri Petrov, was a popular Bulgarian poet, screenplay writer, playwright and translator of paternal Jewish origin.
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Boyko Rashkov
- Occupations
- university teacherlawyerjuristpoliticianacademic
- Biography
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Boyko Iliev Rashkov is a Bulgarian lawyer, state official and politician, deputy to the National Assembly in 2021, Deputy Prime Minister for Public Order and Security. He was Minister of the Interior in the first and second Stefan Yanev government and in the Kiril Petkov government.
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Alan Woods
- Occupations
- writerjournalist
- Biography
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Alan Woods is a British Trotskyist political theorist and author. He is one of the leading members of the International Marxist Tendency (IMT) as well as of its British affiliate group Socialist Appeal. He is political editor of the IMT's In Defence of Marxism website. Woods was a leading supporter within the Militant tendency within the Labour Party and its parent group the Committee for a Workers' International until the early 1990s. A series of disagreements on tactics and theory led to Woods and Ted Grant leaving the CWI, to found the Committee for a Marxist International (soon renamed International Marxist Tendency) in 1992. They continued with the policy of entryism into the Labour Party. Woods has expressed particularly vocal support for the Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela, and repeatedly met with the Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, leading to speculation that he was a close political adviser to the president.
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Stefan Tsanev
- Enrolled in Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski"
- In 1959 studied journalism
- Occupations
- translatorwriterpoetplaywrightjournalist
- Biography
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Stefan Nedelchev Tsanev is a contemporary Bulgarian writer, known for his essays, plays, poems, and historical novels.
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Lena Borislavova
- Occupations
- politicianlawyer
- Biography
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Lena Zdravkova Borislavova is a Bulgarian lawyer and politician from We Continue the Change. She served as the head of the political cabinet in the government of Kiril Petkov.
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Ran Bosilek
- Enrolled in Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski"
- Studied Slavic studies and law
- Occupations
- children's writertranslatorwriterpoetjurist
- Biography
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Ran Bosilek, born Gencho Stanchev Negentsov (Bulgarian: Генчо Станчев Негенцов), was a Bulgarian author of children's books. Three years before his death, in 1955, he translated Astrid Lindgren's children's book "Karlsson-on-the-Roof" into Bulgarian.
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Daniel Mitov
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Daniel Pavlov Mitov is a Bulgarian politician. He served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria from 2014 to 2017.
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Nikolaos Tsitiridis
- Enrolled in Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski"
- Studied journalism
- Occupations
- television presentercomedian
- Biography
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Nikolaos Tsitiridis is a Bulgarian comedian, writer, screenwriter and television presenter.
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Solomon Passy
- Occupations
- computer scientistpoliticianmathematician
- Biography
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Solomon Isaac Passy is a Bulgarian scientist and politician. According to Alpha Research, he is the most recognized Bulgarian of Jewish descent.
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Gergana
- Occupations
- singer
- Biography
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Gergana Georgieva Katsarska is a Bulgarian pop-folk singer, often referred to as "the Barbie doll of pop-folk". Her early career (2003–2004) was marked by the runaway success of her debut single "Губя те бавно" followed by a best-selling debut album.
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Meglena Kuneva
- Occupations
- journalistpoliticianjurist
- Biography
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Meglena Shtilianova Kuneva is a Bulgarian and EU politician.
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Angel Dzhambazki
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Angel Chavdarov Dzhambazki, born 21 March 1979 in Sofia, is a Bulgarian nationalist politician and member of the European Parliament. He is also a co-chairman of VMRO, having joined the nationalist party's youth organization in 1997 and gradually progressed through its ranks.
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Traycho Kostov
- Occupations
- military officerpolitician
- Biography
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Traycho Kostov Dzhunev was a Bulgarian politician, former President of the Council of Ministers and Secretary of the Central Committee of the Bulgarian Communist Party.
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Bozhidar Dimitrov
- Enrolled in Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski"
- Studied history and archaeology
- Occupations
- politicianhistorian
- Biography
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Bozhidar Dimitrov Stoyanov was a Bulgarian historian, politician, and polemicist in the sphere of Medieval Bulgarian history, the Ottoman rule of Bulgaria and the Macedonian Question. He was director of the National Historical Museum, formerly a Bulgarian Socialist Party member, and later became affiliated with the Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) political party.
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Tatyana Doncheva
- Occupations
- politicianlawyer
- Biography
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Tatyana Doncheva Toteva is a Bulgarian politician from the Movement 21 political party, of which she is the chairperson. She has been a member of four National Assemblies. - the 38th, 39th, 40th and 45th.
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Nadezhda Neynski
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Nadezhda Neynsky, previously known as Nadezhda Nikolova Mihaylova is a Bulgarian politician and diplomat. A former leader of the Union of the Democratic Forces, she served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and as a Member of both the National Assembly and the European Parliament. She was most recently the Bulgarian Ambassador to Turkey.
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Anton Donchev
- Occupations
- politicianwriterscreenwriter
- Biography
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Anton Nikolov Donchev was a Bulgarian writer of historical novels and screenwriter of Bulgarian historical drama films. In 2003 he was elected an academic at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. He is well known in the country and abroad with his novel Time of Parting.
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Elena Poptodorova
- Enrolled in Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski"
- In 1975 studied English studies
- Occupations
- politiciandiplomat
- Biography
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Elena Poptodorova is a Bulgarian politician and diplomat, who has served two times as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Bulgaria to the United States.
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Philip Dimitrov
- Occupations
- juristwriterpoet lawyerpoliticianlawyer
- Biography
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Philip Dimitrov Dimitrov is a Bulgarian politician, Prime Minister of Bulgaria 1991 – 1992, MP in the 36th (1991 – 1994), 37th (1994 – 1997) and the 40th (2005 – 2007) National Assembly, and MEP from January 2007 to May 2007.
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Leda Mileva
- Occupations
- translatorwriterlinguistjournalistpolitician
- Biography
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Leda Mileva was a Bulgarian communist, writer, translator and diplomat. She was the daughter of Bulgarian poet Geo Milev.
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Sotir Tsatsarov
- Enrolled in Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski"
- Studied law
- Occupations
- prosecutor
- Biography
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Sotir Stefanov Tsatsarov is a Bulgarian jurist who served as the chief prosecutor of Bulgaria from December 2012 until December 2019. Tsatsarov allegedly owes his appointment to Delyan Peevski, a media mogul and member of Bulgaria's Parliament, and Prime Minister Boyko Borisov. His time in office has been overshadowed by controversial investigations of political opposition leaders, famous businessmen, and independent media. Prominent Bulgarian jurists, including the heads of Bulgaria's main appellate courts, have asked for his resignation.
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Yana Yazova
- Occupations
- writerpoet
- Biography
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Yana Yazova was the pen name of Lyuba Todorova Gancheva (Bulgarian: Люба Тодорова Ганчева) (1912 – August 1974), a Bulgarian intellectual and writer. Her name is also transcribed as Liuba Gantcheva.
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Mara Buneva
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Mara Buneva was a Macedonian Bulgarian revolutionary, a member of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization, who assassinated Velimir Prelić, a former Serbian Chetnik commander and Yugoslav legal official of the Skopje Oblast. She shot herself in the chest, and subsequently died in a hospital a few hours after the attack, while Prelić died a few days later.
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Maxim of Bulgaria
- Occupations
- priest
- Biography
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Patriarch Maxim was the head of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church from 1971 until his death.
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Zvezdelina Stankova
- Occupations
- mathematician
- Biography
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Zvezdelina Entcheva Stankova is an American mathematician who is a professor of mathematics at Mills College and a teaching professor at the University of California, Berkeley, the founder of the Berkeley Math Circle, and an expert in the combinatorial enumeration of permutations with forbidden patterns.
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Georgi Bliznashki
- Occupations
- politicianuniversity teacher
- Biography
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Georgi Petkov Bliznashki is a Bulgarian politician and a former Member of the European Parliament (MEP). He was a member of the Coalition for Bulgaria, part of the Party of European Socialists, and became and was an MEP from 1 January 2007 to June 2007 with the accession of Bulgaria to the European Union. He was born in Skravena, Sofia Oblast.
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Radan Kanev
- Occupations
- politicianlawyer
- Biography
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Radan Milenov Kanev is a Bulgarian politician who was elected as a Member of the European Parliament from Bulgaria in the 2019 European Parliament election. He used to be one of the leading members of the Reformist Bloc.
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Lyuben Dilov
- Occupations
- science fiction writerwriter
- Biography
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Lyuben Dilov Ivanov, occasionally spelled Luben Dilov, Ljuben Dilov or Liuben Dilov was a Bulgarian science fiction writer of the Communist era and the author of acclaimed children's fiction and non-fiction works. He is the father of Bulgarian politician and screenwriter Lyuben Dilov Jr., who currently serves in the 49th National Assembly.
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Iva Miteva
- Occupations
- politicianjurist
- Biography
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Iva Miteva Yordanova-Rupcheva is a Bulgarian lawyer and politician who was the Speaker of the 45th National Assembly and the 46th National Assembly.
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Venko Markovski
- Occupations
- politicianwriterpoet
- Biography
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Venko Markovski, born Veniyamin Milanov Toshev (Bulgarian: Вениямин Миланов Тошев, romanized: Veniyamin Milanov Toshev; Macedonian: Вениамин Миланов Тошев, romanized: Veniamin Milanov Tošev; March 5, 1915 – January 7, 1988) was a Bulgarian and Macedonian writer, poet, partisan and Communist politician.
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Dimitar Vlahov
- Occupations
- politicianpolitical commissarmilitary officerdiplomat
- Biography
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Dimitar Vlahov was a politician from the region of Macedonia and member of the left wing of the Macedonian-Adrianople revolutionary movement (also known as Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (IMRO)). As with many other IMRO members of the time, historians from North Macedonia consider him an ethnic Macedonian and in Bulgaria he is considered a Bulgarian. According to Dimitar Bechev, Vlahov declared himself until the early 1930s as a Bulgarian and afterwards as an ethnic Macedonian.
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Margarita Popova
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Margarita Stefanova Popova is Bulgarian jurist, prosecutor, educator who was Vice President of Bulgaria from 2012 to 2017. She previously served as Minister of Justice from 27 July 2009 to 4 September 2011 in the cabinet of Boyko Borisov. As the running mate of presidential candidate Rosen Plevneliev in the October 2011 presidential election, she was elected as vice president and took office in January 2012.
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Aleksandar Lilov
- Occupations
- philosopherpolitician
- Biography
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Aleksandar Vasilev Lilov was a Bulgarian politician and philosopher. At his career's height during the People's Republic of Bulgaria, he was described as the second most powerful man of the regime; however, he fell out of favor in 1983 and lost his power. He made a strong political comeback during the democratic transition and was elected chairman of the Bulgarian Communist Party. He led the party to transform and adapt to the post-Communist era. A party referendum supported his proposal to change the name to the Bulgarian Socialist Party.
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Eizzaldin al-Manasrah
- Occupations
- literary criticpoetacademicuniversity teacher
- Biography
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Izz Al-Din Manasirah was a Palestinian poet, critic, intellectual and academic born in the town of Bani Naim, Hebron Governorate, Palestine. Winner of several prizes as a cadet and an academic, he was a poet of the Palestinian resistance from the late 1960s on, and his name was associated with armed and cultural resistance. He was with such poets as Mahmoud Darwish, Samih al-Qasim and Tawfiq Ziad, or as they are collectively called, the "Big Four in Palestinian Poetry." He sang poems by Marcel Khalife and others and was famous for his poems "Jafra" and "The Green Kannah."
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Rumyana Bachvarova
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Rumyana Bachvarova is a Bulgarian GERB politician. Since November 7, 2014 she was Deputy Prime Minister in charge of coalition policy and state administration in the Second Borisov Cabinet. On 11 March 2015, the Minister of Interior Veselin Vuchkov was replaced by Rumyana Bachvarova, who also kept her position as a Deputy PM. She has been credited with being a unifying force when it comes to the different parties supporting the Second Borisov government.
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Dimo Hadzhidimov
- Occupations
- politicianjournalist
- Biography
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Dimo Hadzhidimov was a 20th-century Bulgarian teacher, revolutionary and politician from Ottoman Macedonia. He was among the leaders of the left wing of Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (IMRO), which he considered a Bulgarian creation.
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Petar Beron
- Enrolled in Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski"
- Graduated with biology
- Occupations
- cave biologistpoliticianentomologistparasitologistzoologist
- Biography
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Petar Beron, born 14 March 1940 in Sofia, Bulgaria, is a Bulgarian academic and politician. He was leader of the United Democratic Forces (SDS) in from August 1990 to 4 December 1990 (heading the second-largest political party at the time). He was a vice-presidential candidate in 1992 and a presidential candidate in 2001 and 2006.
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Blagovest Sendov
- Occupations
- diplomatpoliticianuniversity teachermathematicianstatesperson
- Biography
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Blagovest Hristov Sendov was a Bulgarian mathematician, diplomat and politician.
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Petar Poparsov
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Petar Poparsov or Petar Pop Arsov was a Macedonian Bulgarian revolutionary, educator and one of the founders of the Internal Macedonian Adrianople Revolutionary Organization (IMARO). He is regarded as an ethnic Macedonian by the historiography in North Macedonia.
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Pavel Shatev
- Occupations
- politicianrevolutionary
- Biography
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Pavel Potsev Shatev was a socialist revolutionary from Macedonia and member of the left wing of the Internal Macedonian-Adrianople Revolutionary Organization (IMARO), later becoming a left-wing political activist. Per Anastas Vangeli, he was a self-declared Bulgarian. He was jailed in post-WWII SR Macedonia as an enemy of the state, but his image was rehabilitated later. Shatev is considered a Macedonian in the Macedonian historiography and a Bulgarian in the Bulgarian historiography.
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Ivailo Petrov
- Occupations
- painterwriter
- Biography
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Ivailo Petrov was a Bulgarian writer, who authored a number of short stories. His work focuses on traditional village life in Bulgaria.
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Rayko Aleksiev
- Enrolled in Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski"
- Studied literature
- Occupations
- painterjournalistcaricaturist
- Biography
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Rayko Nikolov Aleksiev was a Bulgarian painter, caricaturist, and writer of feuilletons. He established Shturets, a hugely successful satirical newspaper, in 1932.
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Lyuben Berov
- Occupations
- university teacherpoliticianeconomist
- Biography
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Lyuben Borisov Berov was a Bulgarian economist. He served as Prime Minister of Bulgaria in the 83rd Government of Bulgaria from 30 December 1992 to 17 October 1994.
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Stanke Dimitrov
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Stefan Dimitrov Todorov, better known as Stanke Dimitrov (Станке Димитров) or under the pseudonym Marek (Марек), was a high-ranking Bulgarian Communist Party activist and anti-fascist.
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Mihail Mikov
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Mihail Raykov Mikov is a Bulgarian politician who was Chairman of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) from 2014 to 2016. He is a parliamentarian with six consecutive terms as a deputy in the National Assembly. His career in the legislature culminated in his election as Chairman of the 42nd National Assembly on May 21, 2013. Mikov was Minister of Interior from 24 April 2008 to 29 July 2009 in Sergei Stanishev's government. Currently he is the leader of the Parliamentary Group of BSP Left Bulgaria in the 43rd National Assembly, the coalition led by the socialist party. Mihail Mikov was elected as Chairman of the BSP on 27 July 2014, succeeding Sergei Stanishev. He won a run-off against outgoing Economy and Energy Minister Dragomir Stoynev with a final tally of 377-333.
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Damyan Velchev
- Occupations
- diplomatpoliticianmilitary personnelministermilitary officer
- Biography
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Damyan Velchev or Velcev was a Bulgarian politician and general.
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Assen Razcvetnikov
- Enrolled in Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski"
- Studied Slavic studies
- Occupations
- writerpoettranslatorchildren's writerlibrarian
- Biography
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Assen Raztsvetnikov was a Bulgarian poet, writer and translator.
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Pavel Chernev
- Occupations
- politicianlawyer
- Biography
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Pavel Mihaylov Chernev was a Bulgarian politician and lawyer. He was also one of the MPs who opposed the Independence of Kosovo.
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Rumiana Jeleva
- Occupations
- politicianuniversity teacher
- Biography
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Rumiana Ruseva Jeleva was Bulgaria's minister of foreign affairs (July 2009 – January 2010), the third woman to hold this office after Irina Bokova and Nadezhda Mihailova. Jeleva was a key figure in the "GERB" political party which won the 2009 parliamentary elections. From 2007 to 2009, she served as Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and headed the Bulgarian delegation in the EPP Group. She was nominated by Prime Minister Boyko Borisov as Commissioner in the "Barroso II Commission" and was affiliated with the European People's Party (EPP). However, an article in the German newspaper Die Welt accused her husband of links with the Russian mafia.
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Boris Velchev
- Occupations
- politicianjudge
- Biography
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Boris Vladimirov Velchev is a Bulgarian jurist who served as the chief prosecutor of Bulgaria between 2006 and 2012, being the youngest person to hold the position.
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Ivan Bagryanov
- Occupations
- diplomatpoliticianmilitary officer
- Biography
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Ivan Ivanov Bagryanov was a leading Bulgarian politician who briefly served as Prime Minister during the Second World War.
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Milen Ruskov
- Occupations
- linguisttranslatorwriter
- Biography
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Milen Ruskov, a Bulgarian writer and translator. He graduated from Sofia University in 1995.
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Boyko Vasilev
- Enrolled in Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski"
- 1989-1994 studied journalism
- Occupations
- journalist
- Biography
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Boyko Vassilev Petrov is a Bulgarian journalist who is the producer and presenter of the weekly TV show Panorama that airs on Bulgarian National Television.
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Christo Pimpirev
- Occupations
- geologistpolar explorerexplorer
- Biography
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Christo Pimpirev is a Bulgarian scientist (geologist) and polar explorer.
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Nikolai Todorov
- Occupations
- diplomathistorianpolitician
- Biography
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Nikolai Todorov Todorov was a Bulgarian historian. In 1990, he briefly served as acting president of Bulgaria.
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Yanaki Stoilov
- Occupations
- university teacherpoliticianlawyer
- Biography
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Yanaki Boyanov Stoilov is a Bulgarian politician and university lecturer who is currently serving as one of the 12 Judges of the Constitutional Court of Bulgaria. He was previously a Member of the National Assembly and the Minister of Justice.
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Andrey Pantev
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Andrey Pantev, Bulgarian: Андрей Пантев; born March 26, 1939; Rakovitsa, Vidin Province is a Bulgarian historian, a member-academician of the World Academy of Sciences and the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
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Zorka Parvanova
- Occupations
- historian
- Biography
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Zorka Petrova Parvanova is a Bulgarian historian and former First Lady of Bulgaria from 2002 until 2012. She is married to Georgi Parvanov, the former President of Bulgaria.
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Javor Gardev
- Occupations
- screenwriterfilm director
- Biography
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Javor Gardev is a Bulgarian stage and film director, known for his 2008 feature debut film Zift.
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Rosen Zhelyazkov
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Rosen Zhelyazkov is a Bulgarian politician and current Speaker of the National Assembly of Bulgaria.
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Georgi Karaslavov
- Occupations
- politicianwriterteacher
- Biography
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Georgi Slavov Karaslavov was a Bulgarian writer born in the Debar district of the town of Parvomay in Plovdiv Province. Several of his novels, including Snaha, Tatul, and Selkor, were made into films.
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Stefan Tafrov
- Occupations
- journalisttranslatorpoliticiandiplomat
- Biography
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Stefan Tafrov is a Bulgarian politician, born on 11 February 1958, in Sofia. He was the Permanent Representative of Bulgaria to the United Nations between 2001 and 2006, being replaced by Ivan T. Piperkov. In September 2002 and December 2003, as part of the standard presidency rotation, he took up the presidency of the United Nations Security Council. In June 2012, he was once again appointed as the Permanent Representative of Bulgaria to the United Nations, and served until 2016.
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Theodora Dimova
- Occupations
- playwrightwriter
- Biography
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Theodora Dimova is a Bulgarian writer and playwright. She graduated in English Language Studies from the Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" and has studied at the Royal Court Theatre in London. She has won many literary awards. Theodora Dimova is daughter of the famous Bulgarian writer Dimitar Dimov.
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Borislav Sandov
- Occupations
- LGBTQI+ rights activistpolitician
- Biography
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Borislav Sandov is a Bulgarian ecologist, politician and member of Bulgaria's 46th National Assembly. He is a member of the political committee of the union Democratic Bulgaria.
