874.00/8–1145: Telegram
The United States Representative in Bulgaria (Barnes) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 11—2 p.m.]
433. In statement issued this morning, presumably aimed at forestalling foreign criticism, Prime Minister Georgiev reiterated Yugoslavia’s [Bulgaria’s] guarantee of complete freedom of press and of assembly for opposition candidates, claimed credit for reestablishment of constitutional freedoms here and promised early publication by association of journalists of non-party daily newspaper. In contrast to this pronouncement, it should be noted that not a single public meeting has been held by opposition candidates nor have any views other than those of Government [been published?]. Pressure on opposition candidates and their sponsors continue[s] throughout country. Only exception to this ruthless campaign is confirmation by Soviet district court of most persons on two opposition lists in Sofia. [Page 284] These lists include such prominent persons as Nikola Petkov, Grigor Chesmedjieff, Kosta Lulchev, Petko Stoyanov and Peter Koev. Unconfirmed in Sofia are four originally on lists, including Minister Asen Pavlov and Agrarian leader Boris Pashev who allegedly had not sanctioned use of their names by opposition. No news of court action in provinces yet received but opposition lists there have already been so decimated that their confirmation at this date would have little meaning. At same time house to house visits by Fatherland Front intimidation agents are becoming general even in Sofia. Traditional election procedure in Bulgaria subjects provinces to more devastating control than capital.