Cabinet officials paid respects at the Second Site on Persin Island on Monday, laying wreaths and flowers to commemorate the victims of the Belene forced labor camp on the 77th anniversary of its establishment. The tribute was organized by the initiative of the caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister, Andrey Yankulov, and the caretaker Environment Minister, Julian Popov. The ceremony was attended by several high-ranking officials, including the caretaker Interior Minister Emil Dechev, caretaker Finance Minister Georgi Klisurski, Chef de Cabinet Rumiana Bachvarova, alongside representatives from the Pleven regional administration and the leadership of Belene Municipality.
The Belene camp, which opened on April 27, 1949, served as the largest and longest-operating facility for interning opponents of the communist regime in Bulgaria, remaining active with interruptions until 1987. During the service, present members stressed that preserving the memory of the victims requires a unified institutional effort. Officials noted that work is currently progressing to finalize the procedure for declaring the Belene camp an immovable cultural asset of national significance.
The stated objective is to ensure the site is maintained as a dedicated space for remembrance and education, integrating it within the natural environment of Persin Island.
Topics: #minister #caretaker #members
