The People's Court () was a special court of

Communist Bulgaria The People's Republic of Bulgaria (PRB; , NRB; ) was the official name of Bulgaria when it was a socialist state, socialist republic from 1946 to 1990, ruled by the Bulgarian Communist Party (BCP; ) together with its coalition partner, the Bul ...

, set up outside the operations of the constitutional frame of law. The court was established after the

Bulgarian coup d'état of 1944 Bulgarian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to the country of Bulgaria * Bulgarians, a South Slavic ethnic group * Bulgarian language, a Slavic language * Bulgarian alphabet * A citizen of Bulgaria, see Demographics of Bulgaria * Bul ...

. The court verdicts started on 1 February 1945, sentencing to death, with no right of appeal, 3 regents, 8 royal advisors, 22 cabinet ministers, 67 MPs from the 24th Ordinary National Assembly of Bulgaria, and 47 generals and senior army officers. Overall, the Court tried 135 cases with 11,122 accused. A total of 9,155 people were sentenced. Of these 2,730 to death, and 1,305 to life sentences. It remains unknown how many executions were carried out. In 1996, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Bulgaria repealed some of the People's Court sentences due to "lack of evidence". With decision 4/1998 the

Constitutional Court of Bulgaria The Constitutional Court of Bulgaria is in charge of reviewing the constitutionality of laws and statutes brought before it, as well as the compliance of these laws with international treaties that the Government has signed. The 12 members of the C ...

declared the People's Court to be unconstitutional. As a consequence its decisions can be repelled without a review being necessary.

Notable people sentenced by the ''People's Court''

Sentenced to death

* The three regents of the yet immature king of Bulgaria Simeon II: king's uncle Prince Kiril, prime minister

Bogdan Filov Bogdan Dimitrov Filov (; 10 April 1883 – 1 February 1945) 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 ...

, lt. general

Nikola Mihov Nikola Mihaylov Mihov (, 11 December 1891 – 1 February 1945) was a Bulgarian lieutenant general of artillery who served as one of the three Regents of Bulgaria for the underage Simeon II (1943–44). Biography left, Meeting between Nikola ...

. * The most recent prime ministers prior to the coup: Bogdan Filov,

Petar Gabrovski Petar Dimitrov Gabrovski () (9 July 1898 – 1 February 1945) was a Bulgarian politician who briefly served as Prime Minister during the Second World War. Gabrovski was a lawyer by profession. He was also a member of the Grand Masonic Lodge of ...

Dobri Bozhilov Dobri Bozhilov Khadzhiyanakev () (June 13, 1884 – February 1, 1945) was Prime Minister of Bulgaria during World War II. Biography Born in Kotel, Bulgaria, Bozhilov attended the Higher Commercial School in Svishtov before starting work as a ...

and

Ivan Bagryanov Ivan Ivanov Bagryanov (; 17 October 1891 – 1 February 1945) was a leading Bulgarian politician who briefly served as Prime Minister during the Second World War. Biography After a career as a diplomat, he was chosen by the Council of Regents, who ...

. * The Chief of Staff of the Bulgarian Army Konstantin Lukash. * Army Generals Nikola Stoychev, Nikola Nakov, Teodosi Daskalov,

Rusi Rusev Rusi Rusev (; 27 November 1887 - 1 February 1945) was a Bulgarian army general and politician who served as Minister of War of Bulgaria from 14 September 1943 to 2 September 1944. Biography Rusi Rusev was born on November 27, 1887, in Gabrovo, gr ...

Asen Nikolov Asen Nikolov may refer to: * Asen Nikolov (footballer) * Asen Nikolov (boxer) * Asen Nikolov (officer) {{hndis, Nikolov, Asen ...

, Georgi Nikolov. * Aleksandar Staliyski - a right-wing politician.

Other sentences

Atanas Burov Atanas Dimitrov Burov (; 30 January 1875 – 15 May 1954) was a Bulgarian banker, philanthropist and politician. Family background Burov was born in Gorna Oryahovitsa. Members of his family played an active role in the national liberation ...

- a banker and ex-minister sentenced to one year of imprisonment. *

Konstantin Muraviev Konstantin Vladov Muraviev (; 5 March 1893 – 31 January 1965) was a leading member of the Agrarian People's Union who briefly served as Prime Minister of Bulgaria near the end of Bulgaria's involvement in the Second World War on the side of ...

- an interim prime-minister, received a life-time sentence, but was released in 1961. *

Nikola Mushanov Nikola Stoykov Mushanov (; 12 April 1872 – 10 May 1951) was a Bulgarian liberal politician who served as prime minister and leader of the Democratic Party. He later became noted for vigorous opposition to the growth of antisemitism in the ...

- prime minister in the period 12 October 1931 – 19 May 1934. Sentenced for one year. Dies on 21 May 1951 in the cabinet of a doctor at Darzhavna sigurnost. * Army Generals

Vasil Boydev Vasil Boydev (Bulgarian: Васил Бойдев; January 1, 1893 – April 23, 1983) was a Bulgarian Lieutenant-General who fought in World War II. Biography Vasil Tenev Boydev was born on January 1, 1893, in the town of Kazanlak. He is the son ...

Asen Sirakov Asen Sirakov (; 2 November 1895 – 30 January 1960) was a Bulgarian Major-General who fought in both World Wars.Везенков, Александър. 9 септември 1944 г.. София, Сиела, 2014. ISBN 978-954-28-1199-2. с. 396. ...

Remembrance

As of 2011 by suggestion of two ex-presidents of Bulgaria

Zhelyu Zhelev Zhelyu Mitev Zhelev (; 3 March 1935 – 30 January 2015) 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 prom ...

and

Petar Stoyanov Petar Stefanov Stoyanov (, born 25 May 1952) is a Bulgarian statesman and politician who served as the 2nd President of Bulgaria from 1997 to 2002. A member of the Union of Democratic Forces, he won the second democratic election in modern B ...

, February 1 has been marked as the Day of remembrance and a tribute to the memory of the victims of the communist regime.

References

{{Reflist World War II war crimes trials Legal history of Bulgaria

Notable people sentenced by the ''People's Court''

Sentenced to death

Other sentences

Remembrance

See also

References