39 years from the Chernobyl accident: How Todor Zhivkov hid from the Bulgarian people the abuse of the Bulgarian people

On April 26, 1986, in the Soviet nuclear power plant (NPP) in Chernobyl, Ukraine, the worst accident in the history of nuclear energy arises. The cloud of radioactive waste, which is spread, also passes over Eastern Europe, including Bulgaria. Todor Zhivkov’s management and he personally do not warn the society in a timely manner.

In such crisis situations, when the health of the nation is threatened, its executives are expected to adequate response and timely measures. On the part of Todor Zhivkov, in his capacity as head of the People’s Republic of Bulgaria, there is no such reaction. Care and preventive measures have been taken by UBO regarding the food and water of the entitled people, and the society is left to sink into ignorance.

Preserving Soviet interests

When, on April 26, the world news agencies publicize the nuclear accident in Bulgaria, the society was left ignorant. Moscow is officially silent. And Zhivkov, who can contact Moscow with a phone call, does not even realize that at that moment he is the man who has to protect the Bulgarian people.

However, the preservation of Soviet interests is no doubt more important. Moscow continues to remain silent on April 27. The first harmless message about the accident was released on radio and television in the USSR only on April 28 in the evening.

Zhivkov’s indicative silence

Indicative of Zhivkov’s silence is the story of the then Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers Grigor Stoichkov, who chaired the government committee to overcome the consequences of disasters and accidents.

Not only does it confirm the lack of reaction from the first party and state leader, but also the arrogant behavior of the Soviet authorities, which saved information about the government at government level. Stoichkov testifies:

« The Council of Ministers has not received an official announcement from the Soviet side, nor from the Soviet leadership, as well as from the Central Committee of the Bulgarian Communist Party and personally by Todor Zhivkov, the first unofficial announcement of the accident on April 29, the official announcement of the Soviet Government, which was published in the newspaper » Labor  » Georgi Atanasov for the accident and I informed him that the civil protection was given to the monitoring.

Soviet ambassador: « noise » more than they should

Communications about the Bulgarian population were given by the Committee for the use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes (Kiaemz) on May 2, 4, 6, but they are very short and late. On May 10, a new government meeting follows.

« During this period of time, I turned to the USSR ambassador Leonid Grekov to send a specialist for assistance. He recommended that I contact the Soviet Committee for the peace use of atomic energy. Grekov told me that we exaggerate the danger of the radiation pollution and the » noise « more than we needed. They consider it necessary, « Grigor Stoichkov explains to the prosecutor’s office in 1990.

Special reports left without consequences

He prepares a special report on the case addressed to the chairman of the State Council Todor Zhivkov and the Minister of People’s Defense Dobri Dzhurov. « I informed Zhivkov that there was pollution and that we had taken measures to displace the grain, to stop the sale of a certain amount of cheese and the production of apple juice. I said was only perceived as one information without him, » says Grigor Stoichkov.

At the beginning of 1987, a new report was prepared to Zhivkov on « Preliminary information on the radiation situation in the country at the end of 1986 ». It states that as a result of feeding animals with contaminated feed is expected to increase radiation.

What follows is a recurrence of radiation in milk and meat. Obviously how radiation affects the population was not paramount to Todor Zhivkov, who in cases that directly affect the interests of the USSR, like the Chernobyl accident, prefers not to make decisions that cause Moscow’s disapproval.