THE ARREST OF NIKOLA PETKOV

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R000800490007-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 7, 2005
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: August 21, 1947
• Content Type: IR

IRIE1.URAX.44
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COUNTRY Bulgaria
sulmer The Arrest
OR:GIN
SkCitIFIDRITTIAL
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE GRE
INTELLIGENCE REPORT ?N1-,7DENTIAL
1)07-7
DATE:
This document Is hereby rogeaded to
Of Nikaft P itketriDENTIAL in accoidince with the
letter of 16 October 1973 from the
25X1 Director of Central intelligence to the.
r,r,W3,:el. the United Stales
v Date: 2008
INFO.
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UIST. AA august 19
GES 12
SLiPPLEMENT
DISTRIBUTION
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STATE I WAR NAVY 1 JUSTICE
n &E re&O I AAxF
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En view of the importance attached to the recent trial of Nikola Pekoe ,
Bulgarian Opposition Deputy, the 80th
Session of the Bulgarian Gra.ns National Assembly, held on 5 Onte 1947? is of
taterest since it records the parliamentary debate concerning the rawest of
the Prosecutor of the Sofia District Court? to deprive Sofia Deputy Nikola
Petkov of his parliamentary inumnity and authorization for his arrest and tr1e.
Vladimir Dinchesv (Coarauni. The question is: Vihat does article one
TrirrE677-re;i"alie Defense of the People'a Government provide I It reads
'74hosoever forms or leads within the country of abroad organizations or
:-Ieroups eshich are aimed at the overthrow., undermining, or weakening of the
eatahlished government of the state., through coup d'etat, revolution,:
;roubles, terrorist activity or crimes dangerous to soolety, is punishe
able by the heaviest penalty - death or life imprisonment.," Therefore,
the eroceceor is fully authorized to send this letter and to request cos,
Anthorinat?inv,, Is the accusation of the prosecutor unsupported? Does iw
eerd this Istter without Fr; rounds?
Voice from the_Oynosition: .By Order of the Party&
eimohevt No, gentlemen deputies, The letter of the prosecutor is sup.
.)orted by a mass of accusing ma.teria3.0 First, the process of the consp:.ra-
-Ave oreanieetion "Neutral Officer", ill which three groups of t wenty-sorren
:nen each were indicted. With the exception of four, all the rest were ann.
damned in conforznIty with the act of indictiaanteasa* They made confessi4ta
In their written replies to the preliminary investigation and to the clout p
confessions of thirty ? frrty ? fifty typewritten pages., Their earths:-
sions contain their explans.tions of how they joined this orgateization?
their regrets and their pleas for leniency,
Voice from the, Opposition: They :rote that which was dictated to theme
Dimohev: I must assure you, gentlemen deputies, that eleven members of
..-SheTinie-tission expressed themselves ms the evidence presented,, We were
all.consolous that the task given us was important and essentiala The
Q,pposition representatives on the tom-lesion witnessed the seriousness,
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the celm, aad objectiveness with which the evidence was examined*
We do not condemn. Our task is to make pronouncement whether we find
the proseoutores.request to be founded, whether there is Sufficient
evidence in support of his request. We examined the submitted data
without any party prejudice*
VIIET_EmIltREpositions There is nobody to believe yeal.
Dimehees but, as I said, objectively and clamlye It is beyond
MSE-rhat am have two verdicts on the two conspirative organizatiors?
"Neutral Officer" and "Military Alliance". These verdicts were isseed
by lawfully established courts, with complete freedom of defense, mith
full freedom for the presentation of evidenoe. ...0 Dindter Tzvetkov
should tell his comrades that when a verdict comes into legal force,
then, according to our laws, it has been correctly issued according
to the facts (retorts from the Opposition).
LroicefroetL_50.EzmiAim: rere the Fascist verdicts correct?
Peter Anastassov (Socialist)c You are Red Fascistsi ....*
Dimchevt In reading all this accusing meterial you can find in the
testimonies ofthe accused absolutely no note of a forced confession
(laughter from the Opposition), taken forcibly or otherwise (retorts
from the Opposition). Only people with an extremely light and unmet-
soientious attitude toward certain judiciary material can jabber in
the manner of the gentlemen of the Opposition* Each legal mind, in
reading these testimonies, will intuitively know that they tell of
things that are completely true (retorts from the Opposition)* ...et
The accused confess their guilt and disclose their inspirers, thoee
that have urged them on, that have psychologically prepared than
to embraoe the idea of conspiracy and activities :Or an armed coup
d'etat against the authorities, those who have urged them along the
criminal road. Many of the accused confess that they have been in-
fluenced by that which they have road in Narodno Zenedelsko Zname
and SvoLoden Narod and by that which has been spoken to them*
Hesits=47.11;FrEave been given conviction by the other officers;
they have been led to fleet Nikola Petkov, and after having been in
his study they have cone out calm, inspired, as some of them say, for
the idea of conspiracy and coup d'etat.
(Here Dindhav reads extracts from the testimonies of
Peter Jatchav and Stefan Avramov and ethers.)
Dimoheve If the prosecutor had sent a letter to request the trial
of hkola Petkov only on the strength of the military section that
mould have been amply sufficient. Because if the military section
has been formed to attract officers with the clear intent to be able
at a given moment to overthrew the government by force, then the cri-
minal act in paragraph one of article one is completely covered* The
testimonies of those two officers show that such a military section
has in reality been formed, that Peter Koav is a member of this
section, that in the name of that section Peter Keay maintains conteot?
encourages and assists the formation of the other two military consairae
tive fascist organizations.... It has often been said here that tha
Opposition maintains the struggle with the ballot only. You see that
only one year after Q September? after the defection of Petkov from
the government, Patkov? Koev and others of the Opposition are at the
bottom of these conspiracies. Therefore, they wish to arertbrtfirtho
goverment by armed coup d'etat, by oppression, and not by the ballot.
ci.16.444wer=u0MID ENTIAL
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You can speak hypocritically of whatever you like. The biggest
conspirators talk only of democratic means of reaching power pending
the completion of their conspiracy. Peter KODV does not mat on his
awn initiative. Peter KOW7 is the nest intimate and closest fe.l.end
of Nikola Petkov.- Peter Koev infornsTikola Petkov about everything.
In his content with these officers Peter Kowv speaks on behalf of the
section, in the nave of the political secretary at the head of this
organization, which grows and proppers under his care. If Keel,' ac-
tually-vas proceeding only in his awn name they wouldnot decide to
converse and contact him.
In the platform of the organization "Neutral Officer" there is
the following point: "Le should get in touch with the Opposition".
Aeramev is charged with the maintenance of this contact. As I said
in the beginning, the reason for it is clear. The officers will ef-
fect the coup d'etat but they Will then have to hand over the power
to someone and when they seek someone they can rely on they find
Nikola Petkov - they find the Opposition - they find the deputies
around Nikola Petkov, as well as others who agree with these projects
and supply them with inspiration*
Ketch() Bonev (Agrarian National Party); You wish to break up the
rcrarfanTriiront
Dimehev: Kotcho Bonevt You are enough of a coward to keep away
mra these dangerous matters.
Bonevt One head to one lifet
(Dinchev roads written testimony of General Ivan
Constantinov Popov.)
Dimeeave Yes, gentlanen, you had prepared to take over the govern..
ment, you had prepared the necessary personnel as well so as toeli-
minato those that hinder you. You have on many occasions addressed
yourself to us here with the words: "Soon will your song be finisheit"
The more gullible of you have even mentioned a time limit of fifteen
days.... Your conviction ia certainly due to the fact that you be-
lieve that you can force the will, of the Bulearian people with the
assistance of international reaction, You must remember, however,
that we are not in 1923, that today the authority is in the hands of
workers and peasents joined in e holy union, mindful of the lesson
of the past, and that every attempt to inflict a blow on the people'l
authority will meet the steel muscles of this strong Fatherland Front
organization which unites all Fatherland Front denocratio forces.
Any anone you will perceive that nobody's coup d"etat will succeedt
(Retorts from the Opposition.) (He continues to read the testimony)
"'two days after I met him I vent to his hone on Tsar Shishman Street.
He received MD in his study. Our conversation lasted fortyefive
minutes.... He described the internal situation of the country as
highly tense because of the unlawful acts of the authorities, the leek
of measures to limit the high cost of living, etc."
Why do these officers always seek out Nikola Petkov for his
analysis of the internal and international situation? All that have
gone to him state that they requested his opinion on the internal and
international situaticn. Because, through his tendencious interpre-
tation of the external situation, by speaking of the widely publicized
atomic bombs which were stated to be very fearful, of the very
great power of America, of the eeakening power of the Fatherland Fret
of its negation by the people, of the sufficient exhaustion of the
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Soviet Union which is no longer capable of opposing the greater demo-
cratic powers, he ha a w' shed to emphasize that, the overthrow of the
Fatherland Front and their taking over of power is impending. When
the first man of the Opposition, Nikola Petkov, leader of the Opposi-
tion, speaks so authoritatively to officers* who can be magnificent
as officers but who understand little of politics, who have no orien-
tation in political life and international events; and when Nikola
Petkov makes this statement in the manner which He deems proper* then*
I beg you to agree, his words will have a reflection in their minds*
they will listen, they will follow his lips, and they will follow his
instructions,
(He reads): "... I gave him detailed information on the organiza-
tion 'Neutral Officer', namely, organization plan, aims, problems,
means* I gave him no names at this meeting, but only said that me Will
appoint a general staff officer as liaison to his staff-military section,
He approved of the existence of our organization and asked no whet he had
in the provinces. I replied that I will tell him more and acquainted
him with the desire of the Central Committee of our organization to be
shown reliable people of his in the provinces for the establishment of
oontact and corm= effort. That he promised to do in the next meeting
after reflection and consultation with a person of his staff the name
of which person he kept secret*" ire have brought out the activity
of the military section. It is to win influence among the officers and
to make use of them in an eventual taking over of the government by force,
Speak out, are these feats? You have a stenciled reply: this has been
drawn out by oppression, this does not correspond to the facts. Even if
fifty persons were to speak in this direction we would be obliged to late
ten to the Opposition...*
(Reading from the testimorleof Colonel Marko Ivanov): "rhs went to
Nikola Potkov's home dressed as civilians; he received us immediately
and I presented Colonel Gergov to him as a representative of our group
of officers who works in the army so that we can collaborate with him*
Then I said that we road like to hoar his opinion of the situation*
He made a review of the situation and stressed the feet that the Father.
land Front government is dictatorial. I told him that the mass of of-
ficers an active service mould be on his side. He said that he is well
aware of the humor and attitude of the officers toward him and his party
because be has been visited by quite a number of officers who have offered
him their collaboration. 413 proposed to him as army chief of staff General
Popov* retired. He said that he had been told of Popov, and that he would
have our recommendation in view. Je suggested the above changes as first
steps to throwing the Communists out of the army. On the question of as-
sistant-comnanders, we told him that it would be best to have them go*
He had a very negative attitude toward them, saying that theLr are completely
superfluous and that they are merely transmitters of Communism. He al-
luded that the Corremists nay not cede authority. Then I told him that
we are resolving the problem at its worst, by which I wished to tell teel
that we are also preparing a coup d'etat. He understood my meaning because
he made a certain reserve, that he intends first to carry oat the strurele
by legal mays, and that could nnly be by extreme means. Later, by the
fact that he agreed to publish our articles in his newspaper* it was clear
that he agreed and accepted our collaboration."
***0 There is no need of further proof *Oi0 The question is very
clear, The prosecutor, examining the witnesses' testimonies, the confes-
sions of theeecused, the press materials, certain letters addressed to
foreign powers ('Mahzari') finds that there is sufficient ground for
Potkov to be tried, on the prosecutor's conscience ani conviction.
CONFIDENTra
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Gentlemen!, We arc alarmed if a crire like murder is coemMeds
How ow: we remain silent if %kola Petkov, led by his painful ambi-
tion to be at the head of the government and to oonmand does
net hesitate at the prospect of starting a civil war-hioh would cause
hundreds of thousands of deaths?
Voice from the Opposition: You are at present distributing arms in the
ages. at use o you want to make of it?
Dimohevt Therefore the Commission finds that the request of the pro-
secutor must be acceded to and that the Assembly should decide to de-
prive Nikela Petkov of his immunity and authorize him to be arrested,
examined, tried? and punished according to the law (applause by the
Majority,)
President Kolarovs The word is given to Deputy Titko Chernokolev,
Titko Chernokolev (Communist): Gentlemen Deputies!, The accusation
against Nikola-rakov is very serious.* It is nothing surprising,
nothing new. It is the logical ending of an anti-national career of
Nikola Petkov from the norent he broke away from tho Patherland Front
and slid dawn the slope of reaction (applause by the Majority)*
Ivan Ginchev (Agrarian National Party): Why did he break war?
Chernokolev I shall tell you why presently.
Oinchevs Because he did not wish to maroh to your tune but to the
tune of the Bulgarian people.
President Kolarov: (Rings)....
Chernokolevt Listen well - At the time when Nikola Petkov left the
Taherland Front, despite the great efforts made by our party and by
all Fatherland Front parties to save him, he explained his separation
by the words that he does not agree with the interference which the
Communist Party was alleged to be doing in matters of the Agrarian Un5.0n,
with the arbitrariness of the militia, etc....declarire, that he agree
with and remains true to the program of the Fatherland Front* He strove
to convince public opinion in our country, to convince his can comrades,
and public opinion abroad, that he has no grogram dteorgencies with the
Fatherland Front. What happened? Society imagined that Nikla Petkov
would then begin a loyal, creative, and eonstructive criticiem to correct
insufficiencies and the errors of the Fatherland Front government. Bowe
ever, ikola Petkov, under the veil of a fight against the insufficien-
cies and licenses here and there in the country....
Voice from the ctEaEmms Everywhere, not here and there 04,00
Chernekolevs ... he adapted in general his conduct to a hostile line of
Tjarr--..m-r?totrard the Fatherland Front. Let us examine !tether there is one
undertaking in our country from 9 September ad, carried out by the Esther-
land Front, with which Petkov has agreed, . Can it be that all the Father-
land Front has achieved in internal and foreign policy is bad? ....Nikola
Petkov declared against the agrarian reform. Nikola Petkov declared against
the labor cooperative farms, against the abrogation of the monarchy, against
the constitution.
glanItP.97r., Ileyyyrrymyyt
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Chernokolev: He declared against the granting of assistance to the
farref1e-s?O7 fighters who rerished. He started a campaign for the
liberation of Pascists from prisons and concentration camps, against
the law for the defense of the People' s Government, against the eco-
nomic policy of the covernment of the Fatherland Front, for the de-
crease of the price of industrial goods* He declared against the en-
tire internal policy of the Fatherland Front. On foreign policy,
Petkov began with letters to foreign pavers, and with appeals to fo-
reigners to interfere in our internal affairs. At the time of the
peace conference, Nikola Petkcer assisted the enemies of the Bulgarian
people, so as to have a heavy peace treaty come to our people - then
he committed the greatest of tremens agaiest people and fatherland
(applause from the Majority).
He wants to spoil our good reletions with our liberators.
He carries on intrigues at the time or the money exchange; he wants
to spoil our good relations with France. He intrienies daily with The
Great Powers. He places his stake on war. He does not place his
stake on the collaboration between Great Powers but on the conflict
of the Great Powers. Nikola Petkov awaits this conflict in order to
come to power. when he lost hope that he would come to power by
the road of the people's confidence, by legal means, then he took to
the old and tried coup d'etat methods; he took the same road of the
reaction after the last war; that reaction had lost the confidence of
the people and attempted to overthrow the government of the people by
means of coups d'etat, conspiracy, by winning over the reactionary
forces in the army, Nikola Petkov atterV,s at present to bring about
a restoration through armed struggle.
The facts brought out by the prosecutor, the data contained in the
trials, the mil-known facts of the inimical anti-national policy of
Nikola Petkov, his connections with the foreign reaction, show utterly
clearly that lakola Petkov is the main organizer and center of the re-
actionary forees in our country (applause by the Majority).
Voice from the Oppositions The peasants have no bread and you speak of their
.(573,M.76.17171Fr*'"'r
Chernoko 1 ev Wo shall be the greatest criminals in the eyes of our
people M7re are silent and inactive. At a moment when Nikola Petkov
and a group of reactionaries around him undermine national unity, dee
stray the powers of resistance of our peoples; disorganize the forces of
the people for the rehabilitation of the country, in a moment when oivil
war is carried on on our southern border, we can not allow ourselves the
luxury to tolerate any Ather this criminal and shameful activity by rie
kola Petkov (applause and cries of "trio" by the najority)o Nikola Peby-
kov must be sent for trial by the court of the people, to answer for his
criminal anti-national activity.
With the conscience of a highly patriotic duty being fulfilled,
sad following the irterests of the people and the country, the parliamene
tary group of the Communist Party will vote to have Nikola Petkov de-
prived of his parliamentary immunity and to have him tried by the coun-
try's tribunals.
We are convinced that many of you will recognize this fateful momnt
and will not connect your activity, your?name, and your existence - re-
member, as a loyal oprosition within the limits of the laws - with the
criminal conspiratorial activity ofilia, s If you align ,Noe ?
your-
selves with these criminal conspiraki% - eeeeeeer procedure which Nikola
Petkov uses, you become an anti-national (reports from the Opposition),
for which you should make your accounts very carefully. Remember,. for
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vesamaarreougeprawase,..ramosoawko.
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you the moment is decisive. You have on hand a possibility to break
away.
The Opposition
Chornokolev: ... from the traitorous anti-national activity of Mean
Petkov, and, if you are honest people? to begin work together with al/
the remaining parties of the Fatherland Front (retorts from the Opposi-
tion). You can be certain that we shall not allow you further license.
tie shall not allow fools to play rough-house (applause by the Majority).
The Grand National Assembly will "bind the priest so as to have peace
In the village" (applause by the Majority)....
Christ? Yurukov (Radical Fart and Mihail Genovski (F.F. Agrarians)i
rah oonhrin e approve o r re pe arre-5.711-- timnr?F-ro'ary 17-3. 'axe.
declare that they will vote for the proposal.)
President Kolarael (Gives the floor to Deputy Assen Stamboliiski.)
Assen Stamboliiski (Agrarian :Tational Party): (met wIth arplause free.
the Opposiinii) r-oonn not to defend ITikola Petkov but to state that
the Bulparian people knows that he is innocent ... end if anybody should
judge 'ikola Petkov it should be the Bulearian people and not you (ap-
plause and 'Bravo* from the Opposition)
Nicola Ailukov (Communist): The Bulearian people has long ago condemned
him asa TFEITTor. 4
Tzola Dracoitcheya (Cormennist)s Where are the Bulgarian people?
Starnboliiski: I know where the Bulgarian people are, Madame Dragoteheva
Voice from the M.s.alarltz: Where are you?
Stamboliiskt: I know where I am. Ian where my place is. (applause
ox-E-7Th-r-OFposition.)
Voice from tl.....Alarls.,tsz: With the traitors, with reaction.
Stamboliieki: I shall not be with you, while you continue in this di-
rection.
Minister Anton Yugo, You have a guilty oonseience (applause from the
Egre"gT.- =are he who armed the group in Pazardzhik county. You
are a pub-keeper, you are no fighter at all, and you stain the name of
your father
Stamboliisid: It is clear, from the report of the argument which (Dimohov)
tries 7;77struet , that everything is built upon sand (applause from the
Opposition). The words of Chernokolev... made clear that t he aim is purely
politioal.... I respect my father and I stand there where he stood.
Luber: Gumnerof (Communist): You are with the murderers of your father.
Stamboliiski: The murderers are here (points to the Ministers* desk)
WM-1ms? from the Opposition).... The aim is purely political - to
safeguard the Bulgarian people from new perturbations. You know per-
rectly well that the Bulearian Agrarian National Union has only one means
of struggle - the ballot (applause from the Opposition).
Minister YuLevs Tell us why you arraad the bands in Pazardzhik?
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Stamboliiskil Er. Yueovs I was aeught with a pistol in my pocket
szergar carry pistols '(applause from the Opposition).... When
you were being persecuted, Madera Tzola Dragoieheva,there were three
or four conspiracies in the files of the State Security police and
in a given moment when the government nes ftelingweak they brought
these oonspiracies out in order to consolidate their position..
Dindter Kotev (Communist): And who killed your father? Were there
no organtre-irs- of coups-d'etat then? There they are now (shows the
Opposition).
Stabboliiskis The oreanizers of coups d'etat and the murderers of
767-WitS77717e here, at your desks (shows the desk of the Ministers).
And only there t (long applause and cries of "Braver from the Opposi-
tion and retorts from the Majority).
President Kolaroe: Please let the speaker continue.
Stamboliisid: It is clear that the aim is political.
Yugwe,1 Only you have no notion of politics.
Staub?nick': It was whispered to us in the corridors before we ea-
ter--11-11-477-e-ssion: "row we shall understand which of vet are wise,"
You wish to find traitors anent; us? You will not find them& (ap-
plause and cries "true" from the Opposition). You can be certain that
you will not find themt
Dimiter Gees-rt That means that we shall not find wise and honest
persons among you%
stamhm1440A, They all are honest, You will not find traitors there....
raq7calms gentlemen t Let the Minister of Interior take care to find
accusations for me. I declare that I am the. first sudarniks (siock
worker) to go to prison after Iakela Petkov (applituse from the (pposi-
tion).
Yulgoie: The !Inister of Interior must warn you that the People's
tl au-
o ty is well organized and will place every criminal like you ed
many others in their places. That is what I can tell you (stormy ay.
plause from the Majority).
Stamboliiski: The Agrarian Parliamentary Group declares through
Se tvarriw. is ready to serve the Bulgarian people as it has served
the people up to the present.
YUOVt Whosoever becomes aligned with tlikola Petkov, he will have a
'similar fate,
Stamboliiskit Beware of burning bridges, because you have burned suf.,
"FroTJEFFEffaboration bridges already... We declare that we stand be-.
hind our secretary Ilikola Petkov..., The God of the agrarians is alive.
You may be certain, whatever efforts you may exert to set the leaders
of the agrarian movement aside from your road you will not succeed...
The Agrarian Union did not stop to exist with the death of Alexander
Stamboliiski.... nor with the death of Petko Petkov, nor when its other
leaders were persecuted and arrested. He will not stop to exist now
after you put Nikela. Potkov in prison. The Agrarian Union will remain
united and undaunted in the defense of Bulgarian demecracy.., and the
dawn of democracy will soon come (applause from the Opposition).
President Kolarov: (Gives the Ivan Ivan Pe.shov).
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Dr. Ivan Pas7-ov (Corrnanist): ... It is not a pure hazard that in
Ifiticaus-F!,17;--irrwell as abroad reaction lifts up its head and starts
organizing. Is it a hazard that at present in Hungary the Prime
Minister is to be tried for treason..? The competency of the Na-
tional Assembly is to state whether there are grounds to deprive him
of his immunity. The Bulgarian courts are competent to state whether
he is guilty or innocent. The Fatherland Front has yet to play
a very long, important and responsible role for our country. The
Fatherland Front will resolve all its responsible historic problems...
and each one who tries to impede this progress... will be crushed
(applause from the Majority)* You wish to commit treason :sward the
people and the Fatherland. But the people will not allow you to play
with it. From 9 September on, the people have taken its destinies in
its own hands. The people will no longer entrust any government to
Todor Tiholov: (Spokesman for the Socialist Government Parliamentary
Wuj)71-11:3-clfresses approval of the proposal to deprive Petkov of his
immunity)*
yalli Yanev ('Agrarian, Government') (Approves proposal to deprive
15-a7a-Firlis immunity).
President Kolarae: Mr. Lulohev has the floor.
Aosta Lulchev (Socialist): I came in the name of the parliamentary
group of +le "borkorso Social Democrat Party, United, (interruilsion).?
to reply to the request of the prosecutor with a "No" (interruption).
In a moment of important international events (interruption) when Bul-
garia awaits the ratification of its treaty (interruption) in order to
start on the road of calm and normal political development (interruption),
when the Assembly is to deliberate on the most important and fateful of
issues (interruption) - the elaboration of the, constitution (interruption)
the work of the sembly must be stopped, in order that the Assembly should
attend to the request of the prosecutor (interruption)...the environment
at which this question was placed in the Assembly speaks sufficiently
clearly of the tendency and aim in which it was placed (retorts from the
Majority). The Assembly Was honored for this occasion by the pressnoe
of all ministers.. and by the presence of numerous groups of foreign
guests in the corridors of the Assembly (applause from the Opposition).
An important and fateful question t ea*. Nikola Petkov is not a casual
anybody (interruption) he represents 1,500,00 votes... And let it be
known: the decision of the Bulgarian people and of its represontatives
to fight for freedom and democracy shall net be crushed (applause from
the Opposition; retorts from the Majority).
Yugov: All those who encourage organizers of coups d'etat and who peri
ticipate in conspiracies will have a similar fate (applause from the
Majority). Whosoever defends Nikola Petkovists, he is an organizer or
coups cl/etat, he outlaws himself. This should be well understood by you..
(Series of interrustions - the speech of Lulchev dists to side topics
in brief exchanges with Communist deputies.)
Yordan Panayotcar (Zveno) and !eke Takov (Communist): (Approve of the
Fiviar-trire--i-roseoureicT?
Preaident Kolarov: (Gives the word to Nikola Patkov).
?
Nikole. Petkovr (Agrarian National Party): (met with applause and
iireriarrig up Ti-si the Opposition): Gentlemen and Ladies t It appears
that only I shall be calm here and shall make no show of nerves, fol-
lowing the advice of deputy Titko 9,1sealpf4slimpasI shall not justify my-
gh4P-7IDMirinl*L
406.1,0?9&11,21,1,010.11,..4.
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self, because the innevIent do not need to justify themselves. (ap-
plause by the Opaosition). Ny task has been very much facilitated
by deputies Titko Chernekolev. Dr, T.mart Pnahov. thA "4/144'"'" -'-
torior and by the Prine Minister himself. All four of them caressed
very clearly: the personality of Nikola Petkar is not aired at and that
pas-banality has no significance. The atm is different . to strike doun
the seoretary of the Bulgarian Agrarian National Union... (applause by
the Opposition).
GeorALKostov (Communist): Organizer of coup d'etat.
Petkov: ... to strike down the organization of the Bulgarian peasants
1?i1irapuse by the Oppoeition) because today it stands on an unshakeable
position. This position ist independence of the Bulgarian Agrarian
National Union (applAuse by the Opposition) independence of the organi-
sational life of the Bulgarian Agrarian National Union, struggle for the
freedoms and rights of the Bulgarian people (applause by the Opposition)*
That is where the blow is intended (retorts by the Majority). I be of
yout You all had your turn to speak, have the fairness to allow a man
to say a few words.' I beg of you. It is not much that I wanb. I do .
not justify myself. Have a little patiencet You spoke most inso1ently0-
most nervously, even though you had said that you would be objective.
Chernekolevs You are treMblingt
Petkovs I never tremble. My hands may be trembling from other things,
as those of other tremble from other things.
Ohernokolee: When a man has sold his conscience, he trembles.
aabkovt My conscience has always been clear. It has always been clears
because all in my family have had clear consciences. There are no persons
of impure conscienoe in my family and there will not be such* All of you
have thougatfor a long time and have constantly said, even to some of our
agrarians, that Nikola Petkov will escape* You see for yourself that Ni.
kola Petkov is here, that he has not escaped.
..IsTt22stmllv ne cannot escape
Petkovs Do not talk like this. You know very well whether one can au-
c--4?eor not. Gentlemen, Titko Chernokoev has very well said it The
blow here must be given against the position of the Bulgarian Agrarian
National Union (retorts from the Majority). Dr. Ivan Pashov said "The
same thing that haepened in Hungary must happen here." The reply is
the question itself.
Kotevs There are traitors, both here and there.
Petkovs HOwever, I am obliged to say that even today the Agrarian Union,
Orniroh I have the honor to be secretary, stands on the same platform.
This platform is the sane as it was on 0 September.
.1150212hey_a: Do not profane the 9th of Septembert
Petkov: These positions are: collaboration with the Communist Party mt
equal rights and equal obligations (applause by the Oppoeation)? and
the right to free organizational life for the Agrarian Union.
Draaoiohevat You would not find a single coup d'etat organizer in the
:tomnasnir3t tarty*
q0YMIDBNIFIAAI.
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Petkovs It is not the Agrarian Union which altered its positions,
tilt jou... you want Le interfere in the internal life of the Agrarian
Union (applause by the Opposition). And that is true, because even
today the governrent is in a crisis, because you wish to interfere
in the affairs ofthat section of the Agrarian Union uhich is with
you (applause by the Opposition). And today you declare, or better,
you will declare Obbov and Georgi Dragnev as traitors, and you will
cast them out, beeeze in the last =cent they too understood that
the Bulgarian Agrarian National Union cannot be liquidated by anyone
(applause by the Opposition)*
Chernokolev: This intrigue will not succeed.
Petkavt But I declare here that you will net succeed, You will net
Tarta-gd in making the breakthrough that you desire. At 3 oAcloek to-
day, in these corridors, Georgi Chankov and Titko Ohernokolev summoned
Assen Stamboliiski and told him: "You have still an hour's time to
think, and to obey in order to save yourself (applause by the Opposi-
tion and cries of "Shane"). This is the truth.
Chernokolevs This is a lief. 'Oe shall not collaborate with traitors
like you:?
Petkovs There - Acsen Starboliiski is here*
Chernokolev,I: This is a liel (Retorts from the Opposition).
Petkov: I beg of you, you have made proposals even to me personally,
Tra?eff I agree to obey I omn again come to the Fatherland Front with
you.
Chernokolevs Who has made you that proposal?
Petkov: I do not wish to say. There are persons on this desk here
(ir-pints to the Ministers" desk)* I do not wish to say. And if I have,
not accepted, it is because today I:still believe in the platform an whit&
all these conrades stand (showing the Opposition): equal rights, and oval
obligations. Give freedom to the Bulgarian people and we shall all come
to youst
Yugov: Freedom to the people, not to conspiratorst
Petkovs Er. Einistert A little quiet, please. I listened to you for ao
long, you have had an entire day at your disposal. You have the press at
your disposal, you have all. Now you will be able to pour all the accuse-
tions that you wish on an imprisoned man.
Yugov: The magistrates will do their best.
Petkovt As you see, I do not even justify myself* Give me a minute's
time. Have a little good manners.
Yugov: All right; all right. We shall learn.
Petkave You do need to learn. The Bulgarian Agrarian National Union
will held to the sane platform. And you deceive yourself, if you beliaes
the contrary, You will not Vnd a turn-coat among these comrades (shwa
the Opposition) whom you wish to corrupt by various emes (applause by the
Opposition and cries of "Bravo") because none of them will choose to bee
come, net a defender of Nikola Petkav -- I told you that the personality
has no significance --? but the liquidator of the organization of the Bel-
garian peasants and of the greatest Bulgarian: Alexander Ftamboliiskiit
(all Opposition deputies stand up and applaud for a prolonged period).
ca=wometa baribmiza,
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Chendkolevs It is significant that Lulchev also has risen&
Petkovs Gentlemen deputies, I condi:Wee I go to the prison mith
Tirripplause from the Opposition).
The LiAlmazt Ahaaaaaaa,...t
Petkovs I was cast out in 1938 from this .sane National Assembly for
TEIrtrame reasons - struggle for the rights and freedom of the Bulgarian
people? struggle against personal regi, together with ten of your oom-
rades (applause and cries "Bravo" from the Opposition). Now as then -
I declare that I consider myself happy to have the honor and happieess
to follow the destiny of re, father and my brother - to give my freedom,
and if necessary e my ire, for the freedom of the Bulgarian people.
(Long applause from the Opposition and cries of "hurrah"), 'Long live
the Bulgarian Agrarian National Union (applause from the Opposition
and cries "lone live"). Long live liberty& Opposition deputies
stand up, give long applause and cries of "hurrah").
President Kolarovs (Rings) We shall cone to the vote on the proposal
iiirEgigrarof the Ministry of Justice (some of the Opposition
deputies begin to leave).
Chernokolevs Wait I
The 0 ttions DownwIth dictatorship& Long life freedom!, (Deputies of
e position go out).
President Kolarovs ...(reads)... "In accordance Axticles 99 and 100
of the of Internal Order, the Grand National Assembly at-
cedes to the realest of the prosecutor of the Sofia District Court,
deprives Sofia deputy Nikola Patleev of his parliamentary immunity and
authoriaes his arrest and trial according to the prosecutor's letter."
I tee the deputies who agree with this proposal to raise their
hand. Majority, The Assenbly adopts the proposal. (The Majority
deputies stand up and applaud for a long time.)
The Oppositions Shame& Honuuuuszuuuut (the Opposition deputies heae
for tEe exit and sings "Whosoever falls in the struggle for freedom,
he does not perish, he is mourned by earth and sky, beasts and natures
minstrels sing of him....").
President Kolarov: The session is over,
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