site.btaAssociation of Bulgarians Around the World to Donate Monuments to Compatriots in Taraclia

The Association of Bulgarians Around the World (ABAW) will donate monuments of Bulgarian freedom-fighters and revolutionaries Vassil Levski and Hristo Botev to compatriots in Taraclia, Moldova, the deputy chairman of the organization, archaeologist Prof. Nikolay Ovcharov, said at a press conference here on Monday. The initiative is under the patronage of Vice President Iliana Iotova. According to Ovcharov, Levski’s bust will be placed in the centre of Taraclia and Botev’s will be placed in the foyer of the local university. The official unveiling of the monuments is expected to take place on September 22.

ABAW’s Chairman Mladen Stanev added that the Order of the Templars in Bulgaria, Hristo Hristov – the newly elected chairman of the World Parliament of Bulgarians to ABAW, as well as the author of Levski’s monument - Dimitar Rashkov, who did not take any money for his work, contributed to the creation of the busts.

Ovcharov said that now is the right time for such a donation. In his words, the initiative is a message to all Bulgarians that they should unite and not be “at each other’s throats”.

Stanev recalled that the Association has secured funds and within one week will buy the house that was the birthplace of Bulgarian revolutionary Olimpi Panov in Taraclia. The house will be turned into a museum.