NID: BULGARIA: MLADENOV FACES FIRST TEST

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: The Collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe: A 30-Year Legacy
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06826783
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 26, 2019
• Document Release Date: December 10, 2019
• Publication Date: November 13, 1989

Approved for Release: 2019/10/29 C06826783
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BULGARIA: NIladenov Faces First Test
The demonstration planned for Saturday by dissident groups will
provide the first measure of popular determination to pass for
liberalization and of the new party leader's willingness to accommodate
It.
Although hailing the leadership change as a lositive first step.
dissidents remain skeptical of Mladenov's promises of moves toward
democracy and pluralism. Dissidents already are calling for political
pluralism and have announced plans for anether mass march on
Saturday. Ecoglasnost. the independent ecological group that recently
spearheaded Bulgaria's largest demonstration ever. today will ask h
Supreme Court to permit its registration as z. legal group.
Comment: Bulgarian dissident groups remair small but clearly intend
to test Mladenov's promises of greater freedom. The size of the
demonstration planned for Saturday may indicate whether the
dissident movement has the strength to challenge the regime. Sofia is
in a difficult position�it will be hard to disript the demonstration
only days after the new General Secretary prDmised openness and
dialogue with the people
Another test of the regime's commitment to pluralism will come later
this month when it must decide on the legalization of Ecoglasnost and
how to handle applications from other human rights groups seeking
legal status.
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Approved for Release: 2019/10/29 C06826783