People's Court (Bulgaria)

The People's Court (Bulgarian: Народен съд) was a special court of Communist Bulgaria, set up outside the operations of the constitutional frame of law. The court was established after the Bulgarian coup d'état of 1944.

The court verdicts started on 1 February 1945, sentencing 3 regents, 8 royal advisors, 22 cabinet ministers, 67 MPs from the 24th Ordinary National Assembly of Bulgaria, 47 generals and senior army officers were sentenced to death with no right of appeal. Overall, the Court tried 135 cases with 11 122 accused.[1][2] A total of 9155 people were sentenced. Of these 2730 to death, and 1305 to life sentences. As a consequence to the death sentences, 2138 people were executed, which was more than any other country where post-WWII tribunals were held.[3]

In 1996, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Bulgaria repealed some of the People's Court sentences due to "lack of evidence".[2] With decision 4/1998 the Constitutional Court of Bulgaria declared the People's Court to be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

Other sentences

  • Atanas Burov - a banker and ex-minister sentenced to one year of imprisonment
  • Konstantin Muraviev - an interim prime-minister, received a life-time sentence, but was released in 1961.
  • Nikola Mushanov - 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.

Remembrance

As of 2011 by suggestion of two ex-presidents of Bulgaria Zhelyo Zhelev and Petar Stoyanov, February 1 has been marked as the Day of remembrance and a tribute to the memory of the victims of the communist regime.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "When Bulgaria turned red: Remembering the thousands killed by the communists". Sofiaglobe.com. 29 January 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  2. 1 2 "1945: The People's Court, terror and political violence". Bnr.bg. Retrieved 2017-07-30.
  3. ↑ "Кървавият четвъртък, наречен Народен съд". Capital.bg. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
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