site.btaPresident Rumen Radev Awards State Honours to Figures in Culture, Science

President Rumen Radev presented state honours to prominent Bulgarian figures in the fields of culture and science. The awards were bestowed during a ceremony held at the Coat of Arms Hall at the President Administration building in Sofia on Friday.

President Radev awarded the Presidential Badge of Honour to pianist and public figure Prof. Anastas Slavchev in recognition of his remarkable artistic achievements and his overall contribution as an internationally acclaimed pianist and educator.

The head of State also presented the Presidential Badge of Honour to Blagoy Ragin for his foundational and consistent contributions to the development of Bulgarian tourism and the shaping of the modern image of the tourism sector in Bulgaria and the Balkans.

Journalist Bozhana Dimitrova received the Presidential Badge of Honour for her leading role in the advancement of Bulgarian National Radio and her contribution to the authority of contemporary radio journalism in Bulgaria.

President Radev honoured writer and public figure Boyan Angelov with the Presidential Badge of Honour for his body of work and active dedication to the development and prestige of Bulgarian literature and cultural traditions.

The Presidential Badge of Honour was also awarded to distinguished Bulgarian scientist Prof. Ivan Shopov for his lifetime contributions in the field of polymer chemistry and for his role in integrating Bulgarian science into the European academic community and modernizing its contemporary profile.

On the occasion of her 75th birthday and 55 years of professional service in library science, including the modernization of Bulgarian libraries and the preservation of their literary heritage, Prof. Ivanka Yankova was also awarded the Presidential Badge of Honour.

For his journalistic and publicist work, as well as his active volunteerism and contributions to underwater research and the promotion of military-historical, cultural, and spiritual heritage, public figure and writer Mihail Zaimov received the Presidential Badge of Honour.

The President also awarded journalist and public figure Tsvetan Iliev with the Presidential Badge of Honour for his highly significant professional contributions and his achievements in the development of international journalism in Bulgaria.

Posthumously, Bulgarian writer and playwright Pencho Linov, known under the pseudonym Pelin Pelinov, was awarded the Order of St. Cyril and Methodius – Pendant for his outstanding merits in the fields of culture and the arts. The award was received by Dimitar Tomov, publisher of Pelinov’s works.

In his address, President Rumen Radev emphasized the significant contributions of the awardees to the development and spiritual advancement of Bulgaria. On behalf of all the recipients, Prof. Anastas Slavchev expressed gratitude for the honours bestowed.