Bulgarian Communist Politburo member who commanded the partisan army and was cast out after defying Zhivkov in 1956
Born in Izvorovo, he joined the Bulgarian Workers’ Social Democratic Party in 1903 and was sentenced to death in 1912 for anti-war activity and again after the April events of 1925, serving prison until 1937. A commander of the Communist Party’s Military Organization in the 1920s and a Central Committee member from 1938, he escaped from prison in 1943 to become a Politburo member and commander of the People’s Liberation Insurgent Army. A leading figure of the seizure of power on 9 September 1944, he signed the armistice in Moscow on 28 October and served as minister without portfolio, chairman of the State Planning Commission and deputy premier. Removed from the Politburo after the Kostov trial in 1950, he exposed Zhivkov’s slight partisan record and opposed his election in 1956, was expelled, and was banished to Pleven in 1964.
Activities and affiliations
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1903–1919
Bulgarian Workers' Social Democratic Party (Narrow Socialists)
Political and party leadership -
1943–1944
Bulgarian Communist Party (BKP)Commander of the People’s Liberation Insurgent Army
Military command -
1943–1950
Bulgarian Communist Party (BKP)Politburo memberMain
Political and party leadership -
1944–1950
Bulgaria state institutionsMinister without portfolio, deputy premier
Government and administration -
1945–1950
Bulgaria state institutionsChairman of the State Planning Commission
Economy, finance and planning -
–1956
Bulgarian Communist Party (BKP)
Political and party leadership
Career Timeline
- 1903Joins the Bulgarian Workers’ Social Democratic Party
- 1912Sentenced to death for anti-war activity, pardoned
- 1925Sentenced to death after the April events, commuted
- 1938Central Committee member
- 1943Escapes; Politburo member and NOVA commander
- 1944.10.28Signs the armistice in Moscow
- 1945–1950Chairman of the Supreme Economic Council and State Planning Commission
- 1950Removed from the Politburo
- 1956Expelled from the party after opposing Zhivkov
- 1964Banished to Pleven