25/07/2024 A photo-documentary exhibition dedicated to the 130th anniversary of the birth of the prominent Bulgarian politician Dimitar Peshev was presented at the National[...]

25/07/2024

A photo-documentary exhibition dedicated to the 130th anniversary of the birth of the prominent Bulgarian politician Dimitar Peshev was presented at the National Assembly. The exposition "The Righteous Dimitar Peshev" was prepared by Assoc. Prof. Angel Dzhonev from the Institute for Historical Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

On 14 panels the author of the permanent exhibition in the house museum "Dimitar Peshev" in Kyustendil Assoc. Prof. Angel Dzhonev tells through photos and documents the life and work of the Vice President of the 25th National Assembly, who played an important part in saving the Bulgarian Jews during the Second World War. The exhibition also includes aspects of Dimitar Peshev's life, professional and public activity that are less known to the general public.

We have gathered here today to commemorate the 130th anniversary of the birth of Dimitar Peshev, stated Assoc. Prof. Angel Dzhonev at the opening of the exhibition. He talked about Dimitar Peshev's family, about the education he received, about the man Dimitar Peshev, committed to the Bulgarian national cause, a volunteer during the Balkan Wars and a graduate of Sofia University. He adopted the ideas of a non-partisan government, became Minister of Justice in the first cabinet of Georgi Kyoseivanov and he is credited with the attempt to introduce civil marriage in Bulgaria, emphasized Assoc. Prof. Angel Dzhonev.

The researcher pointed out that in the exhibition can be seen the letter read by Dimitar Peshev from the rostrum of the National Assembly related to the rescue of Bulgarian Jews during the Second World War. In his words, it is an example of how to defend the values of the times because, as Peshev states, the honour of Bulgaria should not be squandered. Assoc. Prof. Angel Dzhonev noted that Dimitar Peshev learned shortly before his death that he was declared Righteous Among the Nations in Israel, and received his recognition in Bulgaria years later posthumously.

Nowadays we need more people like Dimitar Peshev, said the Ambassador of Israel in Bulgaria Yosef Levi Sfari at the opening of the exhibition. At a time when we see the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe, in the US and many large parts of the world, we need strong voices, people who can stand up to the many and give courage to the few, he stressed.