On 4 October 1992, a court in Sofia sentenced Todor Zhivkov, the former leader of Bulgaria, to seven years in prison (replaced by house arrest) and a fine of 7 million levs for embezzlement of public funds and abuse of office. The trial had lasted a year and a half. Zhivkov became the first Communist leader in Eastern Europe to be prosecuted and convicted at an open trial. Todor Zhivkov served his sentence under house arrest. He was released from punishment by the Supreme Court in 1996. By this time, Zhivkov’s popularity had increased due to the economic difficulties that Bulgaria was experiencing at the time. However, his health was compromised. He died on 5 August 1998 of pneumonia.
Based on the Internet resources
President of the Union of Criminalists and Criminologists
Igor M. Matskevich
