Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Rayko Nikolov, doyen of Bulgarian diplomacy dies age 96

Rayko Nikolov with Pope John Paul II
Photo: archive

The doyen of Bulgarian diplomacy Rayko Nikolov has died at the age of 96, the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry has announced.

Rayko Nikolov was Bulgaria’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva for many years, as well as to the former Yugoslavia and to Italy, and was one of the people who shaped Bulgaria’s Balkan policy before the democratic changes in 1989. He was also the man who helped bring Sergei Antonov home, and the man who discovered Italy’s Celle di Bulgheria for Bulgaria, a municipality whose name is a reminder of the Bulgarian presence in these lands in the past. Researchers say the roots of the local population go back to Alcek, thought to be Khan Asparuh’s brother. They say that before Asparuh founded the First Bulgarian Kingdom in 681, Alcek settled in the lands of the Kingdom of the Lombards.

May he rest in peace!



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Lukoil Bulgaria: It is not true that the company is ceasing its operation in Bulgaria

“All sites in the “Lukoil” retail network are functioning and will continue to operate in normal mode.” This is stated in a press release from the company regarding information spread in some media about the upcoming termination of the activities of..

published on 11/13/25 9:45 AM

Parliamentary Energy Committee rejects presidential veto on the Lukoil Special Manager

The parliamentary Energy Committee has rejected President Rumen Radev’s veto on the legislative amendments concerning the powers of the special manager of “Lukoil Neftohim Burgas.” President vetoes legislative amendments related to the special..

published on 11/13/25 8:45 AM

Tsarevets prepares for two versions of Sound and Light Show in one day

For the first time in the 40-year history of the audio-visual show "Tsarevgrad Tarnov - Sound and Light" in Veliko Tarnovo, its two versions will be shown in one day, the press center of the municipal administration has reported...

published on 11/13/25 7:05 AM