Bulgaria’s Former Leader Calls Charges of Embezzlement ‘Lies’

Former leader Todor Zhivkov, testifying in a packed courtroom Tuesday, said charges that he embezzled $4 million from the nation during his 35-year Communist rule were lies.

Zhivkov, 79, described himself as far from wealthy and said that in any event, he could not be held responsible for any wrongdoing because under communism, all decisions were collective.

“All I have is a woolen blanket, but unfortunately, even that was lost,” said Zhivkov, the first of Eastern Europe’s deposed Communist chiefs to be tried for crimes allegedly committed in office.

He could be sentenced to 20 years in prison if convicted.

“The whole indictment is based on lies and paradoxes,” Zhivkov said, partly reading from a prepared statement. Testifying on the second day of the trial, he told the Supreme Court he would refuse to answer questions from the prosecution after Tuesday.

Reiterating his defense that all decisions during his tenure were made collectively, he said: “The main question is whether Todor Zhivkov has even once failed to adhere to the collective method of work” in the party or government.

“The principle of collectivity was a cornerstone of the party statutes,” he said. “I bear the political responsibility for what happened in those 35 years in Bulgaria, but I do not have to atone for sins before the people.”

Zhivkov resigned under pressure from Politburo members in late 1989; Bulgaria had its first democratic elections last June.

His critics point out that under Zhivkov’s leadership, Bulgaria fell into an unprecedented slump that is hindering attempts to establish a market-based economy.

Bulgarian officials and the media allege that Zhivkov had at his personal disposal about 30 vacation homes and hunting retreats, and that some officials were allowed to buy apartments, cars and weekend houses at giveaway prices.