Today marks the 77th anniversary of the establishment of the largest and longest-running communist detention camp for opponents of the regime in Bulgaria

Seventy-seven years after the decision to establish the Belene camp, members of the Council of Ministers paid tribute to the memory of the victims and all those who were repressed and whose path in life passed through the Persin Island.

At the initiative of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Andrey Yankulov and Minister of Environment and Water Julian Popov, the government laid wreaths and flowers at the so-called Second Site. Tribute to the memory and dignity of all camp inmates was also paid by the Minister of the Interior Emil Dechev, the Minister of Finance Georgi Klisurski, the Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister’s Office Rumyana Bachvarova, two deputy regional governors of Pleven Province, and the mayor and deputy mayor of the town of Belene.

The Belene camp was the largest and longest-operating communist camp for the isolation of opponents of the regime in Bulgaria. It was established on April 27, 1949, and operated intermittently until 1987.

Historical memory compels us, after 77 years of pain, shame, and sadness, to once again unite the efforts of various ministries and institutions, but with a different task—to finalize the procedure for declaring the “Belene” camp a group immovable cultural heritage of national significance, stated the attending members of the government today. In this way, the state is committing to preserving the memory and transforming the former Belene camp into a place of remembrance, learning, and connection with nature - part of one of the largest nature parks in Bulgaria.