Bulgaria Marks April Uprising Anniversary

On Friday, National Assembly Chair Nataliya Kiselova attended a ceremony in Panagyurishte, South Bulgaria, marking the 149th anniversary of the April Uprising. In her speech, she praised the heroes of the 1876 revolt against Ottoman rule for their “boundless self-sacrifice” and commitment to national dignity, CE Report quotes BTA

Kiselova emphasized the uprising’s historical significance, noting that it led to the 1877–1878 Russo-Turkish War and the liberation of Bulgaria after five centuries of Ottoman domination. She recalled the international outcry following the brutal suppression of the revolt, with over 3,000 articles and illustrations published across Europe and support from figures such as Victor Hugo, Dostoyevsky, Darwin, and Garibaldi.

“Here in Panagyurishte, the heart of the uprising, we honor those who laid the foundations of our freedom,” Kiselova said. She urged unity and courage in today’s challenges, drawing inspiration from the uprising’s legacy.

Quoting revolutionary Stoyan Zaimov, she underscored the uprising’s deeply national character and concluded with a tribute to its heroes: “Glory! Eternal glory to the participants in the April Uprising. Long live a free and independent European Bulgaria!”