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0Todor Zhivkov (Bulgarian: Тодор Живков) was a Bulgarian communist leader who served as the head of the Bulgarian Communist Party for over three decades and was the de facto leader of the People's Republic of Bulgaria from 1954 until his removal from power in 1989. His tenure is notable for being the longest of any Eastern Bloc leader during the Cold War period.
Zhivkov was born on September 7, 1911, in the village of Pravets, Bulgaria. He joined the Bulgarian Communist Party in the early 1930s and rose through the ranks to become a key figure in Bulgarian politics after World War II. In 1954, he became the First Secretary of the Bulgarian Communist Party, effectively making him the leader of Bulgaria. He later assumed the post of Chairman of the Council of Ministers (Prime Minister) in 1962, consolidating his control over the state.
Under Zhivkov's rule, Bulgaria maintained a close alliance with the Soviet Union, aligning its foreign and domestic policies with Soviet interests. His government is credited with significant industrialization and some improvements in living standards. However, his tenure was also marked by political repression, including surveillance, censorship, and persecution of political dissidents.
Zhivkov's policies included attempts to assimilate ethnic minorities, most notably the forced assimilation campaign against Bulgaria's Turkish minority in the 1980s, which led to significant domestic and international condemnation.
In the context of the reforms and political changes sweeping through the Eastern Bloc in 1989, Zhivkov was ousted from power by his own party in November of that year. This marked the beginning of the end of communist rule in Bulgaria, leading to the establishment of a democratic government.
After his removal from power, Zhivkov was put on trial for various charges, including embezzlement of state funds and ordering the use of force against political dissidents. He was convicted in 1992 but was released from prison due to health issues and spent his final years under house arrest. Todor Zhivkov passed away on August 5, 1998. His legacy remains controversial in Bulgaria, with some viewing him as a stabilizing force that modernized the country, while others criticize his authoritarian rule and violations of human rights.