Celebration the 140th anniversary of the Russo-Turkish liberation war of 1877-1878 in the context of Bulgaria-Russia relations 2007-2018

Abstract

Considering anniversaries as part of the so-called «politics of memory» executed by the state which in fact is a tool used to construct Bulgarian identity, the author analyses three celebrations, i.e. the 130th (2008), the 135th (2013) and the 140th (2018) anniversaries of the end of the Russo-Turkish war of 1877-1878 that took place in Bulgaria in the form of national events. The article shows gradual formation of the offi cial interpretation of ‘March 3rd' that proceeded from 1991 to 2018 as well as attitudes of historians and expert discussions' contents. Special attention is paid to the three international conferences devoted to Liberation of Bulgaria that took place in 2008-2018. It is concluded that the anniversaries in question refl ect the official «politics of memory» exercised in Bulgaria taking into account all stages of modern Bulgaria-Russia relations (normalization, cooling, stagnation) and the authorities' desire not to come down to outspoken Russophobia.