Zhelyu Zhelev, first democratically elected President of Bulgaria, dies at 79

Sofia, 30 January 2015 (MIA) - Zhelyu Zhelev, a dissident against Communism and the first democratically elected President of Bulgaria, has died aged 79.Zhelyu Zhelev, a dissident against Communism and the first democratically elected President of Bulgaria, has died aged 79.

Zhelev was born in 1935 near the city of Shumen and has studied philosophy in Sofia. A dissident activist against Communism who was banned from the Communist Party and also had a book comparing Bulgaria's Communist regime with fascism banned in the country. He co-founded a club asking for reform of the Communist system and then was one of the founders of the SDS party in 1989.

He was elected as representative in the first open elections in Bulgaria in 1990, and was elected as President by the Parliament shortly after. He won the first direct presidential elections in 1992, a position he served until 1997.

Following his retirement, he remained active in liberal-democratic politics across Europe, founded the Zhelyu Zhelev foundation and the Balkan political club. He was awarded the medal of Stara Planina in Bulgaria, and Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov awarded him the 8th of September medal in 2010 for his support to recognize independent Macedonia.