On March 3, Bulgaria celebrates another anniversary of the liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman yoke. On this day in 1878, the Treaty of San Stefano was signed between Russia and the Ottoman Empire, which was supposed to end the Russian-Turkish war between the Russian and Ottoman empires.

The reason for the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878. served as an uprising against the Ottoman yoke in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1875-1876) and the April uprising in Bulgaria (1876), drowned in blood by the Turks. By the end of 1877, after stubborn fighting on the Balkan front, Russian troops liberated Bulgaria, and in early 1878 they were already on the outskirts of Constantinople. On the Caucasian front Bayazet, Ardagan, the city-fortress of Kars were taken. The Ottoman Empire recognized itself defeated, and in the town of San Stefano on February 19 (March 3, new style), 1878, it signed a peace treaty with the Russian Empire.

vintage photos today they tell us about how this war of liberation was waged.

Ossetians as part of a special military unit participated in the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-78.

The first Japanese who set foot on Bulgarian soil, Ili I am Markov Popgeorgiev, fought during the war
participant of the Russian-Turkish war in the ranks of the Russian army, as part of the First Bulgarian Legion
at the head of a platoon during the siege of Plevna, major general,
Baron Yamazawa Karan (1846-1897)

The ruins of the church in Sofia and the Russian troops entering the city

Life GuardsFinnishregiment. Souvenir photos with two local children

Officers and non-commissioned officers of the Finnish Life Guards Regiment, participants in the Russian-Turkish war

General Radetsky (center) with a Cossack regiment

Mobile hospital attached to the Russian army

A Russian Cossack is carrying a picked homeless Turkish child

Homeless children in the courtyard of the Russian consulate in Ruse, where they were kept

Russian artillery in positions near Korabiya (Romania)

Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich with officers

Emperor Alexander II with guards at Plevna

Russian troops in front of Odrin, now Turkish Edirne. On the horizon - not St. Sophia in Constantinople, as everyone wants to think, but the Selimiye Mosque

Turkish heavy artillery on the banks of the Bosphorus

Turkish prisoners of war, Bucharest

During the signing of the San Stefano Peace Treaty. The point is almost set, as it seemed then

Count Eduard Ivanovich Totleben with officers. San Stefano. 1878

According to the comrade asteroid_belt in the article Stoyan, who does not remember kinship? , in The memory of those events in Bulgaria has many monuments. Which is not surprising, given that Bulgaria finally gained independence, after almost 500 years of Turkish rule, which lasted from 1396 to 1878.

"Bulgarian, kneel before the Holy Grave - here lies a Russian Warrior who gave his life for our freedom" written on one of the monuments.

By tradition, the main celebrations will be held at the Shipka Pass, where in 1877 Russian troops withstood a bloody months-long struggle on a mountain pass and won one of the key victories.

In 2003, Russian President Vladimir Putin took part in the events held at Shipka on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the Liberation. After that, on March 29, 2004, Bulgaria became a full member of NATO and Russian high-ranking officials cease to appear at commemorative events. In 2011, Russian Ambassador to Bulgaria Yury Nikolayevich Isakov took part in the festive events in Sofia. But, time goes by, and in 2015 a scandal broke out in Bulgarian society - representatives of Russia were not invited to the celebrations at all.

At the same time, the congratulations of the Prime Minister of Bulgaria Boyko Borisov, published by him on Facebook, caused general bewilderment. "Borisov, in relation to the Turkish yoke, used the word unusual for the Bulgarians in this context "control" , according to the site rb.ru.

And here is a comment-reaction of one of the Bulgarians, given in the same article : "Slavery, Boyko! Slavery! Yoke! 5 centuries of murder, blood tax, genocide! Not foreign control!".

"The recent head of the organization of the Turkish minority in Bulgaria "Movement for Rights and Freedoms" Lutvi Mestan bluntly stated that “Bulgarians have never lived better than in the days Ottoman Empire» , and then "uninvited (!) invasion of Russia" life has taken a turn for the worse.", reports KP.ru. Nice position, isn't it. It turns out everything was great until vile Russia came. It is a pity that the Bulgarians of the 19th century, who liberated their homeland along with the Russian troops, were not in the know. It is interesting what the Bulgarians of the 21st century think.

And on February 19, 2016, the Bulgarian deputies created a commission "on the study of information about the interference of Russia and Turkey in the internal affairs of Bulgaria", according to the site rus.bg.

In response, at a briefing by the representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, the following statement (quote) followed:

"The absurdity of this situation is expressed in the most absurd name of the commission. History really knows examples of a kind of so-called "intervention" of Russia in the internal affairs of Bulgaria, when a Russian soldier came to the territory of this country with weapons in his hands in order to resist fascism and liberate his brothers from evil. Earlier - to free the Slavs from the five-century yoke of the same Turkey. We all remember history very well, whoever does not remember can refresh it in their memory. Of course, it remains only to wonder what is the point of once again looking for the notorious "hand of Moscow "in a state whose generations largely owe their sovereignty, their sovereign existence to their brothers? The question is not that we begin to reckon and remind that the Russian people, the citizens of our country, did for Bulgaria. We would never do this and But when such absurd absurd organs arise which, without trying to find out anything, assert things that are obviously false, then Of course, in this situation, recall our joint common history always good.

There is a fear that in the Bulgarian society, at the suggestion of such parliamentarians, politicians, “neo-Maccarthism” may begin. The cynicism of such steps of the initiators also lies in the fact that the notorious Commission was created on the eve of the 138th anniversary of the liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman yoke.

It should be noted that p the Bulgarian resident has already called on the EU and NATO "strengthen opposition to the growing aggression on the part of Russia." And Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov stated that "The main threats to the foreign policy interests of the European Union come from Russia and the Islamic State terrorist group". Sanctions, refusal of the agreed laying of the South Stream branch, periodic desecration of the monument to the Soviet war-liberators, etc. etc. How soon will "Turkey" disappear from the name of the commission and "suddenly" it will become clear that only malicious Russia is interfering in the internal affairs of Bulgaria? How soon "suddenly" it turns out that there was no Turkish yoke, and the Bulgarians exclusively prospered in the Ottoman Empire? How soon will it become clear that malicious Russia, having treacherously attacked the peaceful Ottoman Empire, ruined the life of the Bulgarians?

And finally, how soon a galloping crowd of Bulgarians will yell a version of the chant "Muscovites to knives" somewhere in the center of Sofia?

Another accusation of Russia in the occupation of Bulgaria in 1944 was made by the 38-year-old Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria Daniel Mitov on March 1, 2016 in an article published in the newspaper "24 hours".

Mitov accused the Russian diplomats of an unacceptable tone of speech and expressed the hope that Bulgaria's membership in the EU and NATO “can only enrich the mechanisms and conditions of our dialogue with other countries”. In addition, the Minister stated that “The Bulgarian people remember very well how the Russian liberation troops of 1877-1878, and Soviet occupation that began in 1944."

The reason for Minister Mitov's article was just the quoted statement of the Russian Foreign Ministry on February 25, 2016, which expressed concerns about the creation by the People's Assembly of Bulgaria of an Interim Parliamentary Commission to study the facts and circumstances related to allegations of interference by the Russian Federation and Turkey in the internal affairs of Bulgaria.

It is clear that today's Bulgaria is not sovereign. And, perhaps, most of the population does not support the Russophobic course of the government. But, firstly, this should be actively expressed in some way - they will remain silent, nothing will change. Secondly, with the help of propaganda, you can thoroughly rinse the brains of the population in the right direction. Who thought until recently that they would walk around Kyiv f e to a lny processions with portraits of Bandera?

This is not the first time that Bulgarians have stepped on a Russophobic rake. We remember very well that they fought on the side of our enemies in the First and Second World Wars. And the way they dealt with the proclaimed ideals of the "Orthodox Slavic brotherhood" when they fought with Serbia in 1885, and then in 1913 again with Serbia, as well as with Montenegro and Greece.

This policy has never led to anything good either for Bulgaria or for the Bulgarian people. I firmly hope that sooner or later, the historical memory of the Bulgarians will be stronger than the Russophobia actively instilled in them today. And this memory will make the Bulgarians realize once again that only the friendship of Russians and Bulgarians has always brought them mutual benefit. And this friendship will revive again and return to the relations between our peoples.

Hello dear readers!

March 3 is a great day, a national holiday in Bulgaria. It is dedicated to the liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman yoke.

For five centuries Bulgaria did not exist as a state, it was from the 14th to the 19th century. It was part of the Ottoman Empire.

Attempts to break out of slavery always led to failures, bloody massacres of the rebels, and the death of people. Other Slavs also suffered from Turkish slavery.

Russia entered the war with Turkey in 1877, in support of the Slavic peoples.

The war lasted one year and in 1878 joint efforts allowed the Russian army to win, defeating the troops of Turkey.

In the war for the liberation of Bulgaria from the Turkish yoke, 90% of Russian soldiers from total troops. Together with the Russians, the Bulgarian militia, formed in Russia, Serbs, Montenegrins, Romanians, Finns fought in the war.

At the end of the war, a peace treaty was signed between Russia and Ottoman Empire. According to which the independence of Bulgaria, Serbia, Romania and Montenegro was recognized. The treaty was signed on March 3, 1878. This date is considered in Bulgaria as the day of liberation from the Ottoman yoke.

The five-hundred-year-old Turkish yoke has come to an end. Bulgaria became independent independent state having its own coat of arms and flag.

In the summer of 1878, the treaty was revised at the insistence of England and Austria-Hungary. The borders of Bulgaria were reduced and millions of Bulgarians remained outside their country: all of Macedonia, Serbia. The Treaty of San Stefano was completely distorted, all the clauses that were beneficial for Russia were canceled.

More than 400 monuments to Russian soldiers have been erected in Bulgaria. In Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, in front of the parliament building there is a majestic monument to Alexander II, the liberator king who defeated the Ottoman Empire.
In the cities and villages of Bulgaria, streets are named after the Tsar-Liberator.

In Varna, the day of liberation was celebrated on the square in front of the Cathedral. Guards of honor lined up on the square naval forces and infantry. The anthem of the Bulgarian Republic was played.

Mayor of the City of Varna Ivan Portnih

The guard of honor with a solemn march with the national flag passed by the podium, which was attended by the leadership of the Varna region, the city of Varna,
Consul General of Russia in Varna,

members of the city's community.

The brass band of the naval forces was present.

The host of the rally said that this day will live in the minds of the Bulgarians as long as the Bulgarian state exists, as long as the Bulgarian people live.

The program of the celebration included the laying of wreaths and flowers at the monument to Count Nikolai Pavlovich Ignatiev,

at the memorial monument to Ukrainian soldiers, at the monument to Russian soldiers-liberators in the city marine park.

Many peoples were liberated from Ottoman rule during the Russian-Turkish wars. Under the reign of Alexander II, independence was granted to a number of Balkan principalities, as well as Bulgaria. The point in the strategic confrontation was set in 1878 in the suburbs of Constantinople - San Stefano.

In our article we will talk about the main milestones of the struggle of the Bulgarian people for independence, the liberation war of 1877-1878, as well as the strong bonds of brotherhood with the Russian Empire.

Anti-Turkish uprisings

In the 70s of the XIX century, a wave of anti-Turkish uprisings swept through the Balkans. The peoples, who had been dreaming of independence for centuries, moved on to the realization of their plans. In 1875, Bosnia and Herzegovina was on fire. The following year, the liberation war also began in Bulgaria. The uprising was brutally suppressed, but the unrest did not subside. The Western powers understood that the solution of the Ottoman question could not be postponed for a long time.

The empire, which existed due to despotic governance and vassal relations, has long been rotten and bursting at the seams.

The major European powers, including Russia, signed an agreement committing Constantinople to reform and grant broad autonomy to the Balkan states. Only England, pursuing its goals in the region, did not agree to a deal. The powder keg of Europe, as the Balkan Peninsula was deservedly called, exploded in 1876. Serbia and Montenegro declared war on the Sultan.
The Russian tsar could not but stand up for the fraternal peoples, mobilization and preparation for war began. At the same time, active work was carried out in the diplomatic direction. They tried to persuade the Sultan to resolve the crisis peacefully. The last attempt to negotiate was made by the European monarchs at a meeting with the Ottoman delegation in London.

However, official Constantinople remained adamant and did not want to make concessions to the Balkan peoples. The next Russian-Turkish war began on April 12, 1877.

Shipka's hold

The Shipka Pass in Bulgaria served as a kind of gate opening the way to the southern part of the country. It was control over this site that played decisive role in the war with Turkey. In July 1877, Russian troops, who by this time had managed to liberate a significant part of the country, including its capital, launched the main blow in the direction of Shipka.

Our soldiers were actively supported by the Bulgarian militias. The enemy could not resist for a long time and decided to leave the strategic height.

Now the main task was to keep Shipka. Suleiman Pasha sent forces there that outnumbered the Russians dozens of times. Every day, the liberators fought off several enemy attacks. The shelling became more intense every day. The defining date was August 11, 1877. The positions of our troops were engulfed in fire from all sides.

During the day, several powerful attacks by the Circassians, who fought on the side of the Turks, were repulsed. There were attempts to enter from the rear and break through the central section of the pass's defenses. at the cost numerous victims the Russians still managed to maintain possession of the height, however, by the evening the positions of the Turks were located at an insignificant distance from our forces. The situation was close to critical.

Reinforcements arrived the next day. The regiment under the command of Major General M.I. Dragomirova occupied the central part of the pass. They also brought provisions and ammunition. In the following days, Turkish troops were driven out from all key positions in the Shipka area. Bloody battles began on the approaches to the pass. A week later, the losses of the joint Russian-Bulgarian troops amounted to about 3.5 thousand people, in turn, the Turks lost 8 thousand soldiers.

In autumn, the active phase of hostilities gave way to positional battles and fortifications on occupied heights. By winter, the weather became a real test: the soldiers died from cold and disease. Nevertheless, this “sitting” made it possible to keep significant forces of the Sultan in this direction, and at the beginning of the next year to make a striking counterattack and reach the Ottoman capital.

Battles for Plevna

One of the most heroic pages in the history of the Russian army was the siege of the Bulgarian city of Plevna, which housed the garrison of Turkish troops. The battles for the fortress were fought from July 1877. The corps of General Schilder-Schuldner attacked the fortified positions of the Turks in the northern direction. The attempt ended in failure, our army lost more than 2 thousand soldiers.

The second attack was led by generals Kridener and Shakhovskoy, the number of troops exceeded 30 thousand people. During fierce battles, they managed to capture two redoubts, but by the evening the Turks had nullified all the military achievements of the Russian troops. In September, the city was already attacked from three sides, the strengthened troops could already oppose the Ottoman general with about 100 thousand people. The Turks resisted fiercely.

It was possible to put the squeeze on an uncompromising opponent only at the end of November. The Ottomans made a sortie in order to take out the wounded and stock up on food and ammunition. The first line of the Russians managed to break through, but in the subsequent battle it was not in favor of the Turks. In the end, the city was occupied, and almost 40 thousand soldiers of the Turkish Pasha were captured. The city resisted for 143 days, and it cost the Russian army incredible efforts to capture it. After this victory, the strategic advantage passed to Russia, the outcome of the war was a foregone conclusion.

Peace treaty and aftermath of the war

The historical document was signed near Constantinople in the town of San Stefano. This happened on February 19, 1878. The effective part of the peace treaty confirmed the right of Serbia and Montenegro to full independence. Bulgaria received full autonomy, as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina. Part Russian Empire a part of Bessarabia was returning, a number of fortresses in the Caucasus were crossing. The Turks were obliged to pay a huge indemnity.

The strengthening of Russia's position did not suit the major European powers. Diplomatic pressure on Petersburg followed, which could have escalated into a full-fledged war. The Russian army was not able to conduct the second campaign in a row, especially against the troops of the formed coalition. I had to agree to a revision of the terms of the peace treaty.

There was a discussion in Berlin about a new world order. As a result, the balance of power in the region has changed somewhat. The territory of one of Russia's main allies in the war - Bulgaria - was significantly reduced, the British occupied the island of Cyprus, and Austria-Hungary received the right to occupy the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Russia retained almost all territorial acquisitions.

The victory of Russian weapons in the war of 1877-1878 once again allowed the Empire to secure the status of one of the leading world powers. This success also allowed Russia to rehabilitate itself after the disastrous Crimean War and expand its influence in southeastern Europe. The fraternal peoples of Bulgaria and the Balkan principalities were able to throw off the fetters of the centuries-old Turkish yoke.

Last weekend, celebrations dedicated to the 140th anniversary of the end of the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878 were held in Bulgaria.

This date, historical in every sense for the Bulgarians, was celebrated in the country at the highest state level: the President of the country Rumen Radev, as well as diplomats and politicians from a number of countries took part in the celebrations.

Probably, the presence of many high-ranking foreign guests can explain the excessive political correctness inherent in the official part of the celebrations: in his speech during the evening verification, the head of state avoided unnecessary words, one way or another connected with Russia, separately expressing gratitude to all the peoples who fought for the liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman Empire. yoke. Although a few hours earlier, during the commemorative events at Shipka, where Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia performed a festive divine service together with Patriarch Neophyte of Bulgaria, Rumen Radev clearly stated:

“We have gathered at the summit to bow to the heroes of Bulgarian freedom and honor our common past. Under the snow in the ground there are many bones. After 140 years, it is difficult to say which of them are Bulgarian and which are Russian, but it is from these bones, from Russian and Bulgarian military glory, that the framework of our Bulgarian freedom was built.”

To understand the role played by the Russian army in the liberation of Bulgaria from the five-century Ottoman yoke, one does not need to study monographs and history books. Almost every second street in the center of Sofia bears the names of Russian generals and rulers, and on main square capital there is a monument to Emperor Alexander II. On the pedestal of the monument in gold letters is written: "Bulgaria is grateful to the Tsar Liberator."

Directly opposite this monument, an evening verification took place - a solemn formation of troops, during which the president of the country was informed: "The entire combat strength is in place, with the exception of those who fell on the battlefield." Tens of thousands of Russian soldiers died on the battlefields of that war. They fought shoulder to shoulder with the Bulgarian militias. But nevertheless, it was the Russian army that made up the main striking force who put the Turks to flight. In March 1878, the troops of the Russian Imperial Army stood on the very threshold of Constantinople. Not far from the city, in the town of San Stefano, a peace treaty was signed that put an end to the war and returned Bulgaria to the map of Europe after centuries of oblivion.

“In addition to the creation of independent principalities - Romania, Serbia and Montenegro - and significant territorial additions to them, it was planned to create Greater Bulgaria with access to the Black and Aegean Seas. The prospect of a resumption of hostilities made the Turks resign themselves, they accepted the vast majority of the terms of the treaty. On February 19 (March 3 - according to a new style), the representatives of Russia and the Ottoman Empire signed the Preliminary Peace Treaty of San Stefano.

Director of the Institute noted Russian history RAS Academician Yuri Petrov during scientific conference dedicated to the history of the Russian-Turkish war.

The terms of this agreement, so beneficial both for Bulgaria itself and for Russia, predictably did not suit the Western European countries, primarily Great Britain and Austria, who feared the strengthening of the Russian Empire in the region and forced the parties to revise the agreement. Ultimately, following the results of the war, another document was signed - the Berlin Treaty, which divided Bulgaria into three parts, which in fact still depend on Turkey.

“Thanks to the military efforts of the Russian Empire, Bulgaria became a free power. I want to emphasize that this act of freedom cost the lives of more than 30 thousand Russian soldiers, thousands of Bulgarian volunteers. As a result of the war, the Treaty of San Stefano was signed, which became one ideal agreement that united the Bulgarian lands into one state. But, unfortunately, it was not fully implemented. Although the main thing was done - Bulgaria was liberated 140 years ago. Thanks to Russia and her soldiers, she became a free state.

Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense of Bulgaria said Krasimir Karakachanov at the ceremony of handing over copies of the battle colors of the battalions of the Russian Imperial Army that participated in the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878.

These banners solemnly handed over to the Bulgarian armed forces the delegation of the Russian Historical Society, who arrived in Sofia for official celebrations dedicated to the 140th anniversary of the liberation of Bulgaria. The ceremony was held within the walls of the Military Academy named after Georgy Rakovsky, which, by the way, the current president of the country, Rumen Radev, also graduated from.

“One of the banners, copies of which we are handing over, is kept in the Crimea in the Museum of Taurida. And it is no coincidence that two inscriptions coexist here: “For Shipka” and “For Sevastopol”, because this battalion distinguished itself during the Crimean War. The second banner is stored in the Military Historical Museum of Artillery in St. Petersburg. As a sign of the friendship of our peoples, as a sign that we remember what happened 140 years ago on Bulgarian soil, we are handing over these banners to the Bulgarian armed forces,”

Said, in turn, the executive director of the History of the Fatherland Foundation.

If we go a little deeper into history, then it will hardly be possible to call relations between our countries cloudless. From the point of view of geopolitics, Bulgaria was often on the other side of the barricades. Suffice it to recall that in two world wars she fought on the side of Germany. But here it is appropriate to recall one interesting historical fact: after the attack on the USSR in June 1941, Hitler repeatedly demanded that the Bulgarian Tsar Boris III send troops to Eastern front. However, the tsar evaded this requirement, fearing the growth of pro-Russian sentiments, and Bulgaria did not actually participate in the German war against Soviet Union. There is an assumption that this position cost Boris III his life.

“Hitler called Boris because he needed a transit german army to go north and capture the oil fields. And then go from there to Bessarabia. Despite the fact that Boris was a German prince by blood, he could not do this as the king of Bulgaria and refused. Then they flew on Messerschmitts, in the cockpits it was necessary to put on gas masks. And poisonous gas was put into this mask. Some time after that, Boris died,

The prince told Nikita Dmitrievich Lobanov-Rostovsky, familiar with representatives of the Bulgarian royal dynasty.

However, during a visit to the Vrana Palace - the residence of the Bulgarian kings, the heir to the throne of Boris III, his son Simeon of Sakskoburggota, who personally conducted a tour of the chambers, delicately noted that the cause of his father's death had not been officially established. Among the unique exhibits that Simeon II presented to guests from Russia is a dining room made of Karelian birch, donated to Tsar Boris Nicholas II, who became his godfather in 1896, when the Sakskoburggotsky family converted to Orthodoxy.

The fact that the farther from the official program of celebrations, the more obvious the connection between Russia and Bulgaria, could be judged by on the opening of the exhibition at the National Historical Museum of Bulgaria dedicated to the Russian-Turkish war. Several thousand people visited the exhibition on the first day alone. The exposition presents weapons and uniforms of the Russian army, as well as rare archival documents and photos.

“We in Russia always cherish the memory of those events very carefully. Undoubtedly, in 1877-1878 the Russian Empire pursued its own national interests. But these national interests very closely coincided with the national interests of the Balkan peoples, and above all the Bulgarian people, who were waiting for their liberation from the centuries-old Ottoman yoke. This war was supported not only by Russian government forces. First of all, it was supported by millions of Russian people who participated in the liberation struggle of the Bulgarian people during the uprising, who directly participated in the hostilities, who participated in fundraising by those numerous national committees that supported the fraternal Balkan peoples.

Addressing the visitors of the museum, the director of the State Historical Museum said Alexey Levykin.

In the Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky in Sofia Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill and Patriarch Neophyte of Bulgaria served festive liturgy- as a symbol of the unity of the two peoples.

The temple-monument was erected in 1912 in honor of the liberation of Bulgaria and dedicated to the Russian saint - Prince Alexander Nevsky. This is one of the largest Orthodox cathedrals in the Balkans and, perhaps, the main attraction of the Bulgarian capital. But this does not prevent the temple from being in a deplorable state: smudges are visible to the naked eye on the frescoes by Vasnetsov. The state has been promising to allocate money for restoration for more than a year. And this is also a symbol, but of a completely different kind.

Text: Anna Khrustaleva

March 3rd is the Day of Liberation from the Ottoman Yoke in Bulgaria. This is one of the main national holidays country, established in honor of the end of the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878. March 3, 1878 in the suburbs of Constantinople San Stefano (now Yesilkoy), where they stopped advancing to the capital of the Ottoman Empire Russian troops, representatives of Russia and Turkey signed a peace treaty. One of his conditions was the re-establishment of the Bulgarian state.

In addition, Turkey was forced to recognize the independence of Serbia, the United Principality of Moldavia and Wallachia (future Romania) and Montenegro, which were allies of Russia in that war.

As noted in an interview with RT, Associate Professor of the UNN named after. N.I. Lobachevsky Maxim Medovarov, Russo-Turkish War 1877-1878 and the San Stefano peace treaty "woke up the Balkans", influencing not only the processes in Bulgaria.

“Both Albanian and Macedonian problems were first identified in San Stefano,” the expert notes.

It was in 1878, Medovarov emphasizes, with the formation of the Albanian League of Prizren that the movement for the creation of an Albanian state began.

• Signing of the Treaty of San Stefano in 1878
• Wikimedia Commons

Macedonia, which, according to the San Stefano peace treaty, was supposed to become part of Bulgaria, remained part of Ottoman Turkey following the results of the Berlin Congress that followed this treaty. The result was the growth of the national movement in a radical form and the creation in 1896 of the Internal Macedonian-Odrinsky revolutionary organization, which began to guerrilla war against the Turks, and after the annexation of Macedonia to Serbia in 1913 - against the Serbs. The most famous victim of the Macedonian militants was the King of Yugoslavia, Alexander I Karageorgievich, who was killed in Marseilles in 1934. The Abwehr and Croatian Ustashe actively helped the Macedonians in organizing this assassination attempt.

According to the results of the Berlin Congress, imposed on Russia by the European powers, Bulgaria itself also suffered, the territory of which, compared with the terms of the San Stefano peace treaty, was reduced by more than two times. However, already in the 1880s, the country in its policy reoriented from the Russian Empire to the states of Europe.

As Medovarov noted, the key role in this process was played by social base on the basis of which the Bulgarian political elite was created.

“Bulgaria was, in fact, created in San Stefano, and the entire Bulgarian political class was created from the intelligentsia or low-class merchants, there was simply no one else,” the expert notes. “They were all educated either in the West or in Russia among Russian nihilist revolutionaries.”

A striking example is the Prime Minister and Regent of Bulgaria Stefan Stambolov, expelled in 1873 from the Odessa Theological Seminary for his connection with the revolutionaries. It was this former Russian seminarian who most actively fought against Russian influence in the country.

Paradoxically, the Russian Empire itself also contributed to the estrangement of Bulgaria from Russia.

“After San Stefano, the Russian authorities of Bulgaria in 1879 imposed the liberal so-called Tyrnovo Constitution, which removed the Orthodox clergy from the levers of government - that part of the educated population that could be our support. All power has passed into the hands of the revolutionary intellectuals and their parties,” says Medovarov.

According to him, this constitution played a fatal role in the formation of the pro-Western orientation of the Bulgarian political class. Under the first prince of Bulgaria, Alexander I Battenberg, the Bulgarian politician favored an alliance with Great Britain, and after the accession to the Bulgarian throne of Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha in 1897, with Germany and Austria.

The people are silent

“Many Bulgarians accused Russia of not conquering Macedonia and other lands for them,” Medovarov notes another reason for the cooling of the Bulgarian elites towards Russia. - Our country was accused of insufficiently defending Bulgarian interests in Berlin Congress 1879".

The fact that Russia did not support Bulgaria during the Second Balkan war 1913, when the country was attacked by Serbia, Greece, Romania and Turkey, according to the historian, finally led Bulgaria to the camp of Germany's allies. Later, in two world wars, Sofia tried to regain control over Macedonia, lost after the Second Balkan War. After Soviet troops Bulgaria was liberated and the communist regime was established in the country. Now this is another reason for criticism of Russia by pro-Western liberals.

“Grievances accumulated, but these were grievances from a certain part of the Bulgarian political class,” Medovarov emphasizes, “The people have always been on the side of Russia. The masses have always been pro-Russian, but have no voice in politics.”

This is confirmed, according to the historian, by the fact that the reviews about Russia from the peasants who made up the majority of the population of Bulgaria, as well as priests, were still in late XIX centuries were positive, although the authorities in Sofia were already oriented towards the West. And now, according to a survey by the American sociological center Pew Research Center, conducted in May 2017, 56% of Bulgarians believe that a strong Russia is necessary in order to resist the West.

• Residents of Sofia welcome Soviet soldiers, 1944
• RIA News

Medovarov recalls that even in 1940 a mass movement began in Bulgaria to conclude a non-aggression pact with Soviet Russia, after the pro-German government came to power.

“Almost half of the country signed up for an alliance with the USSR, but the authorities completely ignored this,” the expert notes.

As Bulgarian political scientist Plamen Miletkov, chairman of the board of the Eurasian Institute of Geopolitics and Economics, said in an interview with RT, a similar situation is observed to this day.

“Ordinary people are with Russia,” the expert notes. “But politicians sometimes say one thing and do another. They fulfill American orders in Bulgaria and the Balkans. You will now see how Bulgaria will work with Macedonia, with Kosovo, with Greece, in order for Bulgaria to become a leader in the Balkans, but this is the wrong course.”

According to the expert, main goal Bulgarian policy to draw Macedonia into the EU and NATO is to create obstacles to plans to conduct the European part of the Turkish Stream through this country to the Balkans. However, this, like Sofia's rejection of the South Stream, is in the interests not of Bulgaria, but of the United States.

“Now in Bulgaria there is American propaganda that Russia did not liberate Bulgaria and did nothing, and there was no war at all,” the expert notes.

Hope for change

Bulgaria is celebrating the 140th anniversary of the restoration of statehood, which is being celebrated today, as a member of NATO, the military-political bloc that is now in force. However, for the first time since 2003, the country's leadership invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to celebrate the anniversary of the country's liberation from the Ottoman yoke. This was done by President Rumen Radev, who was elected in November 2016 and advocates forging friendly ties with Russia.

And although the President of the Russian Federation will not come to Bulgaria this year on March 3, as noted by the Russian ambassador to Sofia, Anatoly Makarov, it is quite possible that he will visit this country within a year. At the festive events, Russia will be represented by Makarov himself. The day before, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia also arrived in the country on a special visit.

Although President Radev constantly talks about the need to lift the sanctions that Bulgaria, like other EU countries, has imposed on Russia, the government in whose hands the real power is is in no hurry to raise this issue. In September 2017, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov stated that he could not agree with the thesis that Russia is not an enemy of Bulgaria.

• Bulgarian President Rumen Radev
• Reuters
• Tony Gentile

“How is it possible to say in military doctrine that Russia is not our enemy, and remain a member of NATO? the prime minister said on local television. - It's a contradiction. Our doctrine says that if a war breaks out, we will fight on the side of NATO.”

At the same time, the prime minister emphasized that he was against strengthening in the Black Sea and was in favor of cooperation with Russia in the tourism and energy sectors.

“Boyko Borisov wants to work with Russia, but he does what the American ambassador orders,” Miletkov notes.

According to the expert, the US may have dirt on the Bulgarian leader. In the early 1990s, he headed a security agency that was suspected of having ties to the underworld. A May 9, 2006, CIA cable released by WikiLeaks claimed that Borisov might be involved in the drug trade. The Prime Minister of Bulgaria refutes this information.

• Prime Minister of Bulgaria Boyko Borisov
• Reuters
• Yves Herman

However, according to the Bulgarian expert, it is likely that in 2018 there will be a reshuffle in power in Bulgaria. Now Borisov's government is backed by a shaky coalition of his GERB (Citizens for European development Bulgaria") with the nationalist bloc "United Patriots", within which, in turn, there are disagreements regarding relations with Russia.

“I think that at the end of the year, in November-December, the government will change, there will be new elections, and we will work normally with Russia,” Miletkov says.

“For us, the situation is now favorable in the sense that, at least, the people are loyal to us, and this people has shown its abilities by electing an adequate president,” Medovarov said.

According to the expert, Bulgaria's exit from the influence of the United States is "not only a Balkan issue, but a global one."

“If the American grip begins to really weaken around the world, then we will have more opportunities in the Balkans,” the political scientist says.