Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

June 3 is a day of commemoration for the victims from Belene concentration camp

Over 20,000 people have been imprisoned at Belene in total

Photo: Belene municipality

The annual initiative commemorating the victims of the biggest concentration camp for the political opponents of the Bulgarian Communist Party in Bulgaria, is to take place at 12 noon today on the spot where the former concentration camp Belene stood on Persin island in the Danube in the times of the communist regime.

The event is organized by an action group of numerous NGOs and private individuals for the restoration of the annual commemoration, a tradition since 1990 mottoed: Together again to honour the memory of the victims of the Belene camp. The commemoration is being renewed after a 3-year break.

The concentration camp was opened in 1949 by the communist regime, and went by the name of “Second site”. To begin with, there were 300 prisoners but their number quickly grew to more than 2,000. Over 20,000 people have been imprisoned at Belene in total. Many of them lie buried in unmarked graves on Persin island.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov

Borislav Sarafov convenes a national meeting over the cases of violence

A national meeting on the topic "Activating the work of the Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Bulgaria to ensure zero tolerance in countering cases of violence" will be held today. It is initiated by Acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov...

published on 12/2/24 6:05 AM
FIFA President Gianni Infantino

Gianni Infantino and Aleksander Čeferin to attend the gala evening "100 Years of Bulgarian Football"

Bulgarian football already has a century-old history, which will be celebrated tonight in Sofia in the presence of distinguished guests. The gala evening "100 Years of Bulgarian Football" will bring together FIFA President Gianni Infantino, UEFA..

published on 12/2/24 5:05 AM

The new week starts with rain and snow

On Monday, the weather will continue cloudy in most parts of the country with rain, more significant in the southeastern regions. Light snow will fall in the Pre-Balkans. Precipitation will stop from the southwest and clouds will break. There will be..

published on 12/1/24 5:20 PM