President Rosen Plevneliev today laid a wreath in tribute at a memorial to the victims of the communist regime in Bulgaria.

In his speech, the President said that despite the willingness of society to look forward and not dig into old wounds, the truth about communism remained alive in memory of Bulgarian citizens.

President Plevneliev recalled that after the establishment of the communist regime in Bulgaria, the death sentences imposed by the "People's Court" became a symbol of repression of the Bulgarian people. The President emphasised that this should not be forgotten. "The fact that in the Pirin region, the police were used to force our parents to forget that they are Bulgarians, the fact of that national betrayal committed by the Bulgarian Communist Party when they voted unanimously to hand over our independence and national sovereignty to the Soviet Union," he said.

Rosen Plevneliev said that the 20th century was marked by ideologically-motivated political violence, of which millions of European citizens became the victims. "The difference is that in Europe the victims of this violence are remembered and revered, while in this country you still hear the calls to forget the past," the President said. He emphasised that freedom and democracy must not just be exercised, but also defended, including in difficult times.

The President said that understanding Bulgaria’s recent history is indispensable for Bulgarians to unite around the values that underpin its society. This understanding is necessary for us to achieve the independence, justice and reconciliation to which we continue to strive today, he said.

The ceremony was attended by the Ambassador of France, Philip Autie, MPs, Deputy Minister of Defence Avgustina Tsvetkova, representatives of the Union of Repressed in Bulgaria, and citizens.