Botev - Death Conspiracy

Death Conspiracy

Botev's image was methodically built up as a revolutionary icon by 19th-century Post-Liberation intellectuals and authors, most notably by Zahari Stoyanov and Ivan Vazov. The more controversial aspects of his biography including his anarchist and Communist ideology were deliberately toned down in order not to offend Bourgeois sensibilities. Ironically, his ideology and association with Russian anarchists helped the Communist propaganda of the second half of the 20thc. to paint him as the pioneer of Bulgarian socialism and thus perpetuate his cult. Consequently, as with any super-exposed public figure with controversy in their past, over the years Botev has on numerous occasions become the target of sensationalist 'discoveries' predominantly in the tabloid press.

One of the most persistent topics for 'revisionism' is related to the exact circumstances and reasons of his death. Due to the almost complete annihilation of Botev's company, there were only a handful of eyewitnesses to his death who survived to the Liberation and left either memoirs or interviews. Some minor inconsistencies in their accounts of the events surrounding Botev's demise are regularly blown out of proportion by sensation seekers and used to support various conspiracy theories such as Botev's officers plotting to kill him due to disagreement concerning leadership or battle plans. No credible evidence has been produced to date in support of any of these alternative theories.