crimes committed by totalitarian regimes - Ministrstvo za pravosodje

Crimes committed by totalitarian regimes
books like Bulgaria in the Secret Archive of Stalin, Over Glowing Coal, The Communist Legal System
and many others. A significant number of repressed persons published their stories in the press and
books, describing their lives. Numerous organizations of repressed persons were registered in Bulgaria
with the main goal to inform the society about the lives of known dissidents and repressed persons and
their support. Regular debates and commemorations were organized and one of the last monuments was
opened at the place that became notorious for repressions – the camp in Belene.
4. Foreign experience lessons
At this stage, the long way of Bulgaria to reconciliation could be positively evaluated. The admission
immediately after the changes on behalf of the supreme national institution – the National Assembly,
of the misfeasance of the regime defused desires for taking the matters into individual hands and did
not permit bloodsheds for revenge. The compensations for repressed persons restored their confidence
in the democratic order. The negative experience from this approach should be shared: alleged false
witnessing. The release of state financed benefits to persons, who sustained legally stipulated repression
due to their criminal offences on the ground of falsified declarations of witnesses, provokes a feeling
of injustice in persons, who are aware of how things are. Often, the following question arises: “Should
we again have privileged ‘active fighters’?” On the other side is the anger of repressed persons, who
feel scorned while the check of the authenticity of facts submitted on their behalf is ongoing. The law’s
positive role is the sieving of facts, thus, admitting any repressions as illegal, but remedying only those
proven. Unavoidably, the authorities will further face criticism from both sides, as it is hardly possible
to avoid the controversy of all incoming demands. In this respect the Roman rule, that settlement by
extrajudicial agreement is preferable to resolving disputes by court adjudication, is applicable. Public
awareness in this aspect is crucial not only concerning legislative measures, but also concerning their
application. Only publicity and explanation could prevent further contradictions between individuals
and social groups. Bulgarian experience in revealing the former State Security dossiers is controversial.
On the one hand the long period before opening the dossiers allowed a part of them to disappear. On the
other hand, namely the length of the elapsed time allowed emotions to fade out and prevent eventual
aggressive attacks on behalf of affected close relatives after revealing the persons, whose reporting to
the authorities caused their tragedies. Time worked in favour of reconciliation.
There is much evidence for reconciliation in Bulgaria – the scope of entitlement of repressed
persons was expanded by the Government of the Bulgarian Socialist Party that is identified as the
successor of the Communist Party, but is increasingly promoting liberal motions in all aspects of
government, including economy. The National Assembly adopted on 9 September 2004 a Declaration
on the occasion of the 60 th anniversary of the introduction of the communist regime in Bulgaria that
condemns once again the arbitrary acts, violence and mass murders, downtrodden human rights and
constitutional principles, repressions of entire ethnic and religious groups. It could not be denied that
the Bulgarian society is not evading the solution of the problems related to confrontation between
separate groups of the population, but is consequently seeking ways for their solution. Whether the right
answers were found is a matter of the check of time.
Doubtlessly, the will and the responsibility of the ruling parties to prevent new public controversies
should be appreciated. The first prerequisite for a right solution is the acceptance of different opinions.
The second prerequisite is learning the lessons of history. Different states, where similar stages of
development passed, approached the issue differently: to forgive and forget the past, to achieve national
reconciliation, peace and stability (the former “Red Khmers” – President of Pol Pot’s regime – Khieu
Samphan), amnesty for the political offenders due to imminent civil war in case of legal actions
(the Cambodian Prime-Minister Hun Sen), judicial pursuits (at national and international level) and
sentencing those found guilty. Correlated to remedy, reconciliation is a more effective approach as
it is centre positioning both – the victim and the doer. Namely the establishment or restoration of a
dialogue between the parties in the conflict, the creation of a feeling of responsibility and taking over
responsibility on behalf of the doer, the remedy of the damages, the reconciliation of the parties in the
conflict, the elaboration of sustainable solutions are the means and the ways to a better future while
stigmatizing the mistakes of the past. The role of the EC is to prevent conformism as well revenge from
188