“Nikola Vaptsarov” Foreign Language High School, Shumen, Bulgaria

Normative documents and institutions restricted Bulgarian citizens’ right of access to information within the period from 1944 to 1989. Facts about history of restrictions.

Information is a method of exercising particular authority – that is why the media often uses the term “the fourth authority” when mentioning it. During the pre-Gutenberg age the manuscript, in particular, is an example of the information embodied. Its uniqueness, which refers to unity at the same time, its high material value, and additionally its inaccessibility to general consumption, makes it generally incommunicative. Therefore, the ordinary person is being deprived of information in any field of the existence of the society. Namely, the manuscript, although unintentionally, converts the information into possession of the so called “god chosen” superior strata of the society. Besides, it allows the minority to exert dictates upon the majority and keep it in comparative subjection. The archetype, the manuscript, the only one – bears upon crypto information, i.e. information in latent form, whereas the drawing printed produce is unquestionably active information; and it is basically available for any literal person, which means – democratic.

During the XX century the class-party totalitarian ideology, in one way or another, misappropriates its supremacy over the information. The means of that misappropriation and general consolidation is the censorship. On the one hand, information is mostly hidden, on the other – it is predetermined which can and which cannot be published in the press, i.e. to become social possession. Faith, as a sacred term, which is basically replacing the actuality of the facts and real circumstances, as well as the pluralism of opinions, are entirely valid here. The belief in the so called “leader party”, “the bright future”, “triumph of the communism” and so forth, is an obligatory requisite with the purpose of filling the space in the information “vacuum”. As for the particular “faith”, in keeping with the terminology of the predominating soc-realistic philosophy, it is called “ideological content”.

The ideological censorship is, at heart, an information filter; but it also represents a complex institutional system. Being dexterously marketeering – it is considerably flexible towards permeability – the so called “filter” can, on some occasions turn into a riddle, and on other, into a concrete wall.

The principles of pluralism in the publicity however, are not enforced upon Stalin’s governing model, introduced in Bulgaria after 1946, since yet the 1^st clause of the Constitution in fact abolished them. Despites, it is expressively the fact that the Fatherland Front’s authority creates its initial list of forbidden books, earlier before the establishment of the one-party governing regime as well as the removal of the opposition parties and their publications. According to the 12^th decree from The Minister’s Council, approved on 6.X.1944, “all printed publications that are pro-German, generally fascist and racist in character, as well as the printed publications written in an ill-disposed manner against the Soviet Union and all the liberty-loving nations” are to be seized from all publishers, booksellers and libraries (apart from the national and the academic one).

The list roll holds 92 book and magazine’s headings, but they are veritably much more in number, for some of the included are actually publisher’s series – “New Europe”, to name but one. A whole host of philosophical, politically-scientific and historic books are labeled “fascist”. Then follows an immediate emergence of faithful and overzealous people who complaisantly enrich the official “index”. Such reference book, published by “AGIT-PROP”, Shumen (1945) is entitled “What should we read” and contains extensive list of scientific, popular and fictional literature divided into “To read”, “May be read…, although…”, “Not to read!” But of course unconditionally forbidden turn out to be the works of the foreign Nietzsche, Pschibischevski, Chateaubriand, Müsse, Schopenhauer, Maeterlinck, P. Istrati (some), D’Annunzio, Karl May and the Bulgarian T.Trayanov, F. Popova-Moutafova, K. Christov, St. Chilingirov, Ch. Moutafov, D. Simidov, St. Michaylovski (some). Instead of a comment, here goes one remarkable sentence from the introduction: “There are some pointed out books and even authors, who are not fully ideologically consistent, but may remain at the libraries with concern of who they are given and will they be correctly understood.”

The BRP’s directives towards literary work are instantly addressed. They are embodied in a number of “open letters” by the party leader George Dimitrov. The very first of them, addressed to The Union of the Bulgarian Writers – published in one issue of “Rabotnichesko Delo” reads as follows : “The fabulous heroism of our national partisans and all the illegal figures in the struggle against the Nazis, the brave participation of the Bulgarian army in the conclusive victorious rout over fascist Germany, the manly service in the enemy’s rear in favor of the nation’s front – all this is expected to be artistically depicted by the creative pen of the true national writers” (“Rabotnichesko delo”, 1945).

In another letter – addressed to The Congress of the publishers and the booksellers, which took place in June 1946, George Dimitrov imperatively recommends the removal of “sensational and questionable in quality literature” in the fields of book merchandising ( “Rabotnichesko delo”, 1946).

However, the full expansion of censorship is still about to occur. The mechanism is already defined – after the soviet pattern. The goals include ideological discipline of the information environment, canalizing and governing of the cultural processes, which would bear upon making away with the natural course of the self-developing and multiple movements. Consequently, amongst the fields of book-publishing and book-distributing, follows foundation of several party and administrative organizations, the purpose of which is to supervise and sanction the associations during every particular stage of their work.

The ideological “buffer” is the “Propaganda and agitating” department, belonging to the CC (Central Committee) of BCP (Bulgarian Communist Party), set up as early as 1944, which during different extents of time alters its structural framework. Invariably however, “Propaganda and agitating” keeps track of the “ideological purity” of what is displayed in the sphere of science, education, art, culture, press and subsequently, of the radio and the television. The censorship, being carried out by the department, is, above all, preventative, i.e. focused on pre-publishing stage. By the “ordinary” convention, the headquarters of the particular publishing company conform these details of their upcoming output, seemingly arousing ideological suspicion, to the relevant province of the department. Moreover, “Propaganda and agitating” has crucial functions in relation to sanctioning as well. By that very department’s directives, party and administrative punishments are imposed on the responsible servants, who have slipped in “ideological mistakes” or in other words, who have published works, containing visible features of criticism of the political system.

The administrative censorship machine is being set up simultaneously with the party one. By the Ministers Council’s 2205^th decree and by Order 48 from 31.VII.1950, there follows the establishment of The Main Department of the publishing houses, of the printing and publishing industry and of the trade with printed matter, the main task of which is to exercise general governing and control over the publishing houses, the polygraphy and the distribution of the printed output. It should be mentioned the fact that (as early as the end of 1947) the private printing and publishing houses have been nationalized, and that 1949 is the year of the repressive Law of book-printing’s approval. Assuming its censorial role, “Glavlit” (the director’s board of the publishing houses) finds expression in having charge of the publisher’s production aims and intentions, including “the needed national self-control, in conformity with the law of the state secret for the publishing- and distribution- intended printed matter”. Furthermore: “Has the lawful rights to issue orders seizing publications exempt from legal distribution, to both permit and prohibit the publishing of particular periodic printed issues.”

Some of “Glavlit” ‘s cardinal duties turn out to be drawing up list rolls and issuing orders suppressing the publication of already published books as well. In other words, here comes the outset of the great (ideological) reading. The so called “polit-editors” first came on the scene, as the term appointment “censor” seems to sound a lot more unappealing. The initial list roll consists of fascist, decadent, religiously opportunist and inferior literature issued between 1944 and 1951, including 749 titles.

To give a purely objective assessment, it needs to be pointed out the fact that, beyond any doubt, not even nearly all of the blacklisted authors remain historically sinless; among the others there often emerge sinister and obnoxious war criminal figures, undisguised fascists and racists, suspicious politicians along with other generally despicable characters. Nevertheless, amongst them all there are scores of talented, loyal and clear-sighted people. And besides, their reduction to such a common denominator, by itself, represents a tremendous misappropriation, it has, for some, long-lasting and entirely personal traces.

All forbidden books are to be pulped under drastically strong preventative measures. A single guarded copy is kept solely in special funds of the National and the regional libraries, book-stocks of BAS (Bulgarian Academy of Sciences) and of the universities, of the National Assembly, of the Ministerial Council and of some other ministries. But who on earth has free access to these “special funds”?! According to the directive, “the usage of this matter is solely available for authorized by their service or institution people, and so forth. As for the scholars, that might happen in isolated cases and only when permitted by the head of the library. Knowingly enough, the names of the access-allowed as well as all their personal data are being listed in a special register. Naturally, the whole procedure is so carried out that the ones of suspicious character could be tracked down. Over the years, the administratively commanding units in the fields of the press and book-publishing will come into different names, but what will remain is their censorship-related function. Not until The April Plenary Session, the “Glavlit” department will be officially closed down, which will lead to, at times, establishment, at others, closure of various institutions, including “Polygraphizdat”, National Alliance “Bulgarian book”, “The committee of press” and ultimately – TSO “Bulgarian book and press”. As it turns out, the most influential of these unions is “The Committee of press” under The Council of ministers. Its primary function is to be in charge of and exert influence upon the entire press and book-publishing branch, as well as on polygraphy, photography, copyright so as to provide the desired “eminent ideologically-artistic and scientific standard”. The committee holds an equal number of efficient and punitive rights as well: it takes part in the printed paper allocation and is at head of the bookseller’s trade. Besides, “The Committee of press” authorizes the publishing activity of the various state and public departments, imposes punitive measures for all infringements in the sphere of press.

Whereas to today’s youth the totalitarian (ideological) censorship of books and altogether reading may seem rather remote, quite incomprehensible, if not mysteriously bizarre, to the pre-1989 Bulgarian, reading could be hardly ever considered a secure activity, bearing in mind the everlasting tracking of The Home office when a single report to the authorities could mean the rack and ruin of someone and their family’s life.

Yet another example of a censorship tool used to be the so called state and official secret. In 1971 by ordinance of the Council of Ministers follows the establishment of the Management of concealing the state secret in the means of mass communication. Relevant to book-publishing, the founding of this department suggests that every single manuscript is to be initialed by a special employee in the publishing house, who is practically answerable for the “secret”. As it already occurred to us, he is doubly subaltern, extra paid and does not submit to the internal subordination in the publisher’s.

However, a number of facts remained out of sight. For instance, the existence of a concealed “prison” for forbidden book issues in Sliven, to name but one, where the total prints of Zh. Zhelev’s “The Fascism”, Blaga Dimitrova’s novel “Face”, Bogdan Filov’s “Diary”, The Holy Bible and so on, used to be stored. Regardless of that, we had heard of the burnt at the furnaces printed issues of Radoy Ralin’s “Lyuti Chushki”, the outrageous dismissals of entire editorial boards, bound up in committing “ideological mistakes”.

Clause 1^st of the Constitution of Bulgaria is abolished in December 1989, which, by itself, leads to turning the “Propaganda and agitation” department (under CC of BCP) as well as the entire totalitarian censorial framework, utterly pointless. “The special fund” of the National library is set open to the public in 1990. The next year follows the closing down of TSO “Bulgarian book and press”. Private newspapers and publishing houses take their first steps while censorship gradually yields. That does not signify to its unconditional surrender, but to emergence of new forms of exerting control upon books, the media, and altogether publicity.

←