By Boris Gudev

"You cannot instill patriotism and cohesion in a nation if you do not cultivate the consciousness of the community and the value of its existence. A good future is not built on denial of the past.”

Atanas Burov is undoubtedly one of the most interesting figures in the political and social life of the Third Bulgarian Tsardom. With his determination, persistence and undying patriotism he has left a mark as an exceptional politician, banker and philanthropist and by establishing modern political practices he is named by many “ideologist of the Bulgarian bourgeoisie”.

Born January the 30th, 1875 as a second child in the family of Dimitar Atanasov Burov and Kinka, Atanas Burov is related to the fighter for church independence Hilarion Makariopolski and the writer Stoyan Mihailovski. His older brother Ivan Burov is one of the first Bulgarian archeologists. He is enrolled in the Aprilovska Gymnasium, from where he is later expelled for organizing a socialist strike. Because of his good grades he is accepted into The Sorbonne in Paris. After completing his education, Burov begins work on multiple ventures like the construction of the railroad line between Sofia and Kustendil.

From a young age Burov displays an interest in politics. In fact from 1899 he was chosen multiple times to be national representative and from 1911 to 1912 he is Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly. After the start of the Balkan war, the young politician enlisted in the army, becoming the only active politician to participate in the war. After leading a knife attack near Chatalzha, the young Lieutenant nearly escapes death after an enemy bullet hits his metal lighter in his pocket. Later for his bravery and sacrifice he is awarded a “for bravery” medal.

In December, he was dismissed and again assumed his duties as deputy and vice-president of the National Assembly.

In 1913, he was appointed Minister of Trade, Industry and Labor in the administration of Stoyan Danev. In 1919-1920 he managed the same ministry in the administration of Alexander Stamboliyski. In 1923, Burov was accused by the National Assembly of betraying the fatherland by continuing the Inter-Allied War.

During the Second World War, Atanas Burov was opposed to the alliance with Germany and on  September the 2nd, 1944 he became a minister without a wallet in the government of Konstantin Muraviev, formed as a last resort to prevent the Soviet Union from attacking Bulgaria. After the September 9th coup, Burov is sentenced to one year in prison by the People"s court. The sentence is annulled by Decision No. 172 of the Supreme Court of 1996. Pardoned and released on the eve of the 1945 elections, he joined the opposition against the communist government. In 1947, he spoke out against the death sentence of Nikola Petkov. On October the 25th he was locked up in Dryanovo and in 1949 he was sent to the concentration camp near Dulovo. In 1950 he is once again arrested and on November 13, 1952 he is sentenced to 20 years in prison, after being found guilty of three charges - that he worked for the "overthrowing and weakening" of the government, that in 1946 he promised the creation on a foreign military base in Varna and that he incited "other countries and social groups abroad" to hostile actions against Bulgaria. He serves his sentence in Shumen and Pazardzhik.

Atanas Burov died on May 15, 1954 in the Pazardzhik prison.

“According to the death certificate, Atanas Burov died on May 15, 1954, in the Pazardzhik prison. When they received the notice, his wife and daughter left for Pazardzhik. They went to the cemetery, questioned and learned that prisoners were buried at the end of the Armenian cemetery. There they find a fresh grave. They put a cross with his name and flowers. An elderly priest was moved by their grief, gathered courage and read a funeral prayer. The next day they go to say goodbye: the wife - to the only man she loved all her life, the daughter - to her father, whom she will carry in her heart all her life. They find the site bulldozed and rammed. There is no cross. No flowers”

-from “Atanas Burov. Life for Bulgaria”

Sources:

http://chitanka.info/text/24104-sreshti-s-burov

https://bulgarianhistory.org/10-misli-atanas-burov/

https://www.atanasburov.org/bg/about-atanas-burov