President Iliana Iotova and Mayor Pencho Milkov unveiled a bust-monument of Prince Alexander I in Ruse.

Tuesday, 15 September 2026

 President of the Republic of Bulgaria Iliana Iotova  visited Ruse today; the highlight of her itinerary was the official unveiling of a bust-monument to Prince Alexander I in the square bearing his name. Together with Mayor Pencho Milkov, she also attended the ceremony marking the start of the school year at Ruse’s oldest educational institution, the Hristo Botev Secondary School, and concluded her visit with a meeting with representatives of the Youth Parliament at the International Youth Center.

At Knyaz Alexander Battenberg Square, Iliana Iotova and Pencho Milkov joined the official ceremony dedicated to the first Bulgarian prince following the Liberation. Among the guests were H.E. Radko Vlaykov, Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria to Romania; Regional Governor Prof. Dr. Lyubomir Vladimirov; the Chairman of the Ruse Municipal Council, Academician Hristo Beloev; His Eminence Metropolitan Naum of Ruse; the Head of the Regional Education Department in Ruse, Dr. Rositsa Georgieva; Members of Parliament from the 19th Multi-member Constituency; representatives of state and local authorities; diplomats; members of the initiative committee; and members of the public.

Emil Vichev, Chairman of the initiative committee—which also includes Nina Lishovska-Todorova, Nikolay Belchev, Architect Kaloyan Tonchev, Kamen Patrikov, Plamen Beykov, Prof. Nikolay Nenov, Evelina Vicheva-Ayzner, and Nikolay Aleksiev—announced that over 800 signatures had been collected for the construction of the monument, with young people accounting for more than half of the signatories. According to him, the unveiling of the monument marks a new chapter in Bulgarian history. Vichev emphasized that Prince Alexander I deserves this recognition and thanked everyone present for honoring the unveiling ceremony.

A special guest was Angelika Solvay—a German public figure and representative of a noble family who is directly related to the Battenberg dynasty through her maternal line. Joining her at the ceremony was Dr. Sigrun Komati, long-standing chairwoman of the German-Bulgarian Society in the Federal Republic of Germany.

In her address to the attendees, Angelika Solvay highlighted that Battenberg was raised to be a cosmopolitan individual with a critical mind. "The steadfastness with which he placed freedom, justice, and honesty above personal interests and abstract state demands makes him a role model in my eyes. I hope that my grandchildren, and indeed all of us, will contribute in some small way to growing up in a free and peaceful world—a path Alexander helped initiate, even at the cost of personal sacrifice," Solvay stated.

Regional Governor Prof. Dr. Lyubomir Vladimirov noted that remembrance is both our duty to the past and our responsibility to the future, as we refuse to let history be reduced to a mere footnote or allow our heroes to become nothing more than names in textbooks. "Before us stands the figure of Prince Alexander I—a ruler who linked his name to some of the most dramatic yet magnificent moments of the young Bulgarian state. These were times when Bulgarians loved him and knew he had fought in the Russo-Turkish War of Liberation. Despite his youth, he managed to live up to the great hopes of our forebears by pursuing a genuinely pro-Bulgarian policy, spearheading the Unification, and leading us to victory in the Serbo-Bulgarian War," noted Prof. Dr. Lyubomirov.

Mayor Pencho Milkov highlighted the connection between Prince Alexander I and the city of Ruse. "It is an honor that our city is deeply linked to the history of Bulgaria and the personal history of Alexander I. It was here that he first set foot on Bulgarian soil, and from here that he departed the country. While unveiling a monument to our prince today is significant, it is equally important to follow the example of the Bulgarians who launched the initiative to create it. Let each of us find the inner strength to do something good for our city and our homeland. We cannot rely solely on the municipalities and the state. I thank Emil Vichev and the initiative committee for the idea of ​​building this monument and for the determination to bring it to fruition," said Milkov.

 President Iliana Iotova also thanked the initiative committee and Emil Vichev for the project to erect this monument in Ruse. She pointed out that Ruse served as the Prince's diplomatic gateway to the other cities along the Danube. "The first head of state of the Bulgarian Kingdom following the Liberation embodies a freedom awaited for centuries—the aspiration of a people to be free and to assert themselves. Today, we bow our heads in tribute not only to the hero of the Unification but also to the hero of Slivnitsa—honoring him for those dark and exceptionally tense times for Bulgaria, when the nation had to stand its ground," Yotova emphasized.

The monument’s location is linked to pivotal moments in the history of Ruse and Bulgaria. Situated in the immediate vicinity is the monument to the fallen soldiers of the Fifth Danube Infantry Regiment from the Serbo-Bulgarian War—a conflict in which Prince Alexander I served as Commander-in-Chief of the Bulgarian Army during the defense of the Unification. His connection to Ruse dates back to 1879, when he passed through the city upon his arrival in Bulgaria, and continued through the momentous events of 1885 and 1886.

The ceremony culminated in the ceremonial unveiling of the monument by Vice President Iliana Iotova and Mayor Pencho Milkov. The bust-monument was consecrated by Metropolitan Naum of Ruse, after which wreaths were laid in memory of Prince Alexander I. The municipal brass band, conducted by Maestro Dimcho Rubchev, performed the national anthems of the Republic of Bulgaria and the European Union, and those present honored the Prince's memory with a minute of silence.

Earlier that day, Iliana Iotova and Pencho Milkov attended the ceremony marking the start of the new school year at the Hristo Botev Secondary School. The oldest school in Ruse, dating back to 1838, opened its doors for its 189th academic year. It was an especially exciting day for the first-graders, who crossed the school threshold for the first time.

In her address to the students and teachers, President Iliana Iotova recalled the distinguished statesmen and notable figures linked to the school's nearly two-century-long history. She expressed pride in the institution's achievements and spoke respectfully to the teachers, emphasizing that despite the numerous challenges they face today, their role remains invaluable. She also urged the students to love Bulgaria with all their hearts and souls.

Mayor Pencho Milkov wished the students and their teachers a successful year and noted. According to the mayor, there should be no distinction between the "first" and "last" day of school—self-improvement should be a daily process. He urged the students to remain curious, to navigate life’s adventure with an open mind, and to discover the inner strength to perform good deeds, for the meaning of life lies in doing good.

The celebration began with the playing of the national anthem and the anthem of the Hristo Botev Secondary School. Twelfth-graders symbolically handed the "Key of Knowledge" to the first-graders, while musical performances by students rounded out the program. The ceremony concluded with the first school bell and the traditional ritual in which the youngest pupils walked under a garland of cranesbill  to enter their classrooms for the first time.

The President’s itinerary in Ruse concluded with a visit to the International Youth Center and a meeting with representatives of the Ruse Youth Parliament. The young people briefed Iliana Iotova on their activities, the initiatives and causes they champion, and their involvement in the city's civic life.

The meeting took place in an interactive and open format, allowing for a direct conversation with the head of state. Participants shared their views on Ruse, raised questions regarding opportunities and prospects for young people, and discussed the importance of active participation in the processes shaping societal development. Iliana Iotova joined the discussion and answered their questions, emphasizing the need for ongoing dialogue between young people and public institutions.

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