Journalist Ivan Garelov dies aged 81

Prominent journalist Ivan Garelov has passed away at the age of 81. The TV anchor and author of emblematic political TV programmes died this morning at the neuro intensive care unit of the Pirogov emergency hospital in Sofia where he was transported after suffering serious head trauma in mid-July.

Ivan Garelov started his professional career in 1972 at Bulgarian National TV BNT as a reporter. Later, in the course of 21 years, he was anchor of the political programme Panorama. At the beginning of the period of transition in the country he created an evening political show called Team 4. Through the years Ivan Garelov has covered events in Cyprus and Greece and has interviewed many Greek politicians and emblematic figures, public service TV BNT says.  He is also author of numerous books, the latest of which about the Middle East conflict which the journalist has covered on site. Before the accident, Ivan Garelov was working on his latest book in the Black Sea resort of Sveti Vlas.

RIP