Pavlikeni

 

Fighter for freedom in contemporary Bulgaria – Emil Koshlukov

 

Emil Koshlukov is a recognized Bulgarian social figure, fighter against the Totalitarism and a passionate defender of the Democracy in contemporary Bulgaria.

 

Back in 1985 – he was sentenced six years in prison for the attempt to stage and lead a  revolt directed against the communist rule in the country, while serving in the barracks. He spent three years in prison in Stara Zagora until the authority eventually decided to set him free. In 1988 he was released before the term set both from the barracks and the army.

 

On 14 November, 1989 in the dawn of Bulgarian Democracy he formed on his own initiative the first Independent Student society in the country. Later on, he established the Federation of Independent Student societies and was elected for its coordination secretary. He was a delegate in the “Union of Democratic Forces”( the first democratic political formation after the collapse of the communist system). Furthermore, he congregated in the National Round Table with the other representatives of the “Union of Democratic Forces” and “Bulgarian Socialist Party”( former members of the Communist party) whose main goal was to successfully negotiate for the conditions under which the Great National Assembly would be carried out. Emil Koshlukov was one of the most recognized and distinguished active leaders of the “Union of Democratic Forces” in 1990. On 14 December, 1990 together with the Student Society he led the student meeting which joined the live chain, later developing into a protest engaging the entire community and besieging the Parliament. Then the President Petur Mladenov( Bulgarian Socialist Party) said his historic words: “ It would be better if the tanks come…”.

 

On 26 August, 1990 a rabble of protesting citizens set fire to the socialists’ headquarters in the capital. Emil Koshlukov was falsely accused of being an accessory in the setting of fire to the so-called Party House by the procommunist circles. He appeared to the scene of the fire trying to stop the savage rabble according to eyewitnesses and video materials. But he was beleaguered by the severe political attack against him. Eventually his international passport was taken away and he was forbidden to leave the country.

 

According to the information received by the “Union of Democratic Forces” he was about to be arrested. Incessantly being tailed by agents of the secret forces, the UDF lodged an appeal to the minister of infernal affairs with the request that he should be given his international passport back. During the same night they( the members of the “Union of Democratic Forces”) organized an illegal crossing of the border which is one of the grand political “actions” in 1990. With the help of his co-members in the party Emil Koshlukov managed to pass through the border crossing check-point Bregovo and finally arriving in Belgrad. After two days he was in the USA where he graduated in politology in the University of California. He kept in touch with his Bulgarian friends and informed himself of the current state of affairs in his home country all the time. He kept up with politics in Bulgaria, came back home and even participated personally in some of them. He was a staunch supporter of the first democratically elected President of Bulgaria Jelio Jelev and his cabinet during his mandate.

 

After his final settlement back in Bulgaria he entirely devoted to social life – raising money for different kinds of charities, making and presenting detailed political analyses. He officially stated that he had no intention of taking part in any sort of political activities again and directed all of his creative energy to the purpose of defending and maintaining social interests, rights and freedom of every single citizen.

 

In 2001 he was elected a minister in the 39-th National Assembly. In the summer of 2004 he was among the first establishers of the political party “New Time” and on 11 July the same year he was elected by the Executive Bureau for its chairman. In 2005 he participated in the elections for the 40-th National Assembly but his party couldn’t pass the 4% barrier and  wasn’t allowed to make a cabinet in the new NA. Currently he has a show called “Hedgehog” on television “ Skat( “Devil fish”).

 

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