As a lecturer in the Department of Sociology at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski," Prof. Martin Ivanov has accumulated extensive academic experience, specializing at prestigious institutions such as Cambridge, Edinburgh, and the National University of Ireland. The author of over two hundred scientific works covering Bulgarian history from the National Revival period to the present day, he has held significant state positions—serving as Secretary for Culture, Education, and National Identity to President Rosen Plevneliev (2012–2017), Ambassador of Bulgaria to Finland (2016–2021), and Minister of Culture from August 6 to November 7, 2014. Prof. Ivanov will be the key participant in the presentation of the new academic collection "The People's Court in Bulgaria (1944–1945). Heroes and Anti-heroes. Volume 1," which will take place on September 17 at 5:30 p.m. in the courtyard of the Ethnographic Museum in Burgas.
The event, organized by the Regional Historical Museum of Burgas and the Municipality of Burgas, showcases the efforts of a team of students, doctoral candidates, and established historians to interpret one of the darkest periods in our nation's history. Eight decades later, the authors strive to establish the truth about the trial, using documents to answer the question of whether the defendants were genuine "fascist criminals" and "the flower of the nation," or if they became victims of personal vendettas and denunciations.
During the meeting, Prof. Martin Ivanov will explain the complex methodology behind the creation of a large-scale documentary registry, which includes the biographies of over 10,000 people who passed through the repressive apparatus. His analysis focuses on the activities of the courts in the following regions:
- Blagoevgrad Province
- Vratsa Province
- Varna Province
- Burgas Province (covering the territories of today's Burgas, Sliven, and Yambol provinces)
Within the borders of the then-Burgas Province, seven judicial panels operated, handing down sentences to over 810 Bulgarians. The statistics from the study show the following:
- 195 people received death sentences (23.8%)
- 70 people were sentenced to life imprisonment (8.5%)
- 141 people were acquitted (17.2%)
- The remaining defendants received various terms of imprisonment
The organizers invite everyone interested to attend the discussion, and admission to the event is completely free.