Ivan Ivanov Bagryanov (; 17 October 1891 – 1 February 1945) was a leading

Bulgaria Bulgaria, officially the Republic of Bulgaria, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern portion of the Balkans directly south of the Danube river and west of the Black Sea. Bulgaria is bordered by Greece and Turkey t ...

n politician who briefly served as

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during the

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Biography

After a career as a diplomat, he was chosen by the Council of Regents, who at the time had power in Bulgaria, to form a government capable of negotiating peace. In contrast to his predecessor, Dobri Bozhilov, Bagryanov was known for his largely pro-Western views. He saw his mission as removing Bulgaria from the war before the arrival of the

Red Army The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, often shortened to the Red Army, was the army and air force of the Russian Soviet Republic and, from 1922, the Soviet Union. The army was established in January 1918 by a decree of the Council of People ...

and so attempted to open negotiations with the Western

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. He also opened dialogue with Jewish leaders in an attempt to end anti-Jewish legislation. However,

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on August 23, 1944 severely damaged this plan as it ended effective Romanian resistance and allowed the Red Army a free hand to advance into Bulgaria. Bagryanov continued his drive to find separate peace, repudiating any alliance with

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on August 26 and declaring neutrality, ending all anti-

Jew Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, religion, and community are highly inte ...

ish laws on August 29 (although it was officially ratified by the new government of Konstantin Muraviev on September 5) and ordering the withdrawal of Bulgarian troops from

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. However, Bagryanov's insistence on neutrality, rather than declaring war on the

Axis Powers The Axis powers, originally called the Rome–Berlin Axis and also Rome–Berlin–Tokyo Axis, was the military coalition which initiated World War II and fought against the Allies of World War II, Allies. Its principal members were Nazi Ge ...

, hamstrung negotiations with the Allies and he was removed from government. After the

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-led Fatherland front came to power he was amongst those tried for war crimes by the People's Court and executed on 1 February 1945 along with the regents of Bulgaria and other ministers and deputies. The verdict was revoked only in 1996 by Supreme Court.

Legacy

There are two streets in Sofia named after him – in Studentski grad and Boyana.

References

1891 births 1945 deaths People from Razgrad Prime ministers of Bulgaria World War II political leaders Executed prime ministers Executed Bulgarian people People executed by the People's Republic of Bulgaria People executed by Bulgaria by firing squad People's Court (Bulgaria) Heads of government who were later imprisoned {{Bulgaria-politician-stub