Sofia Governor Returns Decision on Renaming Zaimov Park.

The Sofia regional governor, Yovelina Tihova, appointed by the government of Rumen Radev, has returned for renewed consideration a decision of the Sofia Municipal Council to rename Zaimov Park to Oborishte.

Her order is dated June 9 and is based entirely on violations of the Sofia Municipal Council ordinance on naming and renaming municipal sites. According to the regional administration, the decision lacks a mandatory opinion from the Consultative Council on naming and renaming of objects under the Sofia Municipal Council, as well as clarity on the legal basis for the renaming in accordance with the applicable municipal regulation.

The order states that there are formal procedural violations in the adoption of the decision, as the required advisory opinion is missing and the legal basis for the renaming is not clearly specified.

The regional administration also notes that the decision has triggered negative public reactions as it is seen by some as an attack on the memory of anti-fascism associated with the general’s name. Ivan Takov, chair of the BSP group in the Sofia Municipal Council, described the governor’s decision as reasonable and fair. He said they would not allow what he called a mockeryof respected historical figures and criticized representatives of PP–DB, Blue Sofia, parts of GERB, and Save Sofia, adding that ideological extremism would not be tolerated in discussions about Bulgaria’s historical past. According to him, they will continue defending historical facts and symbols.

General Vladimir Zaimov participated in the Balkan Wars, the Inter-Allied War, and World War I, and was awarded for military bravery. He was the son of a participant in the April Uprising and is considered one of Bulgaria’s leading artillery experts. In 1939 he was dismissed from the army with the rank of major general for anti-monarchist activities and later collaborated with Soviet intelligence. He was subsequently arrested, charged with espionage, sentenced to death by firing squad, and executed on the day the sentence was issued.

The renaming decision was adopted two weeks ago after heated debates in the municipal council. The change was motivated by differing interpretations of General Zaimov’s role in Bulgaria’s historical memory. The park was renamed at the end of May, with Socialist representatives opposing the move. The issue is expected to continue generating political and public debate.