Public Prosecutor:
- Why did the accused Bogdanov, upon coming to Macedonia, got the impression
that the
Bulgarian authorities cannot deal with the Movement for Liberation?
Asen Bogdanov:
- I got that impression in the second half of 1943, because the Bulgarian
authorities were totally
powerless, having no support by the people. The Macedonian people, except
a small percentage,
was in a bad mood towards and considered the Bulgarian authorities as an
enemy. The people
produced the participants in the Movement. The systematic growth of the
number of those persons
was evident, and the Bulgarian authorities had the support of just a few
individuals.
Public Prosecutor:
- What were your impressions regarding the nationality of the Macedonian
people upon your
arrival in Macedonija?
Asen Bogdanov:
- Before I came to Macedonia I was under the impression that here there
really is a Bulgarian
element. That notion was planted in our minds for years: that Macedonia
belongs to Bulgaria,
that those people are Bulgarian, that the Bulgarian Empire existed here.
It was a great
surprise to me. I realized that the Bulgarian element was present only
in few wealthy persons, who
came close to the Bulgarian authorities, a handful of intellectuals that
belong to the organization
of our people. All others lived with the notion about their nationality,
about their heritage - that they
are Macedonians.
Juror: - Who organized the special forces for bulgarisation of the Macedonian people?
Asen Bogdanov:
- They were organized by a decision of the Council of Ministers, under
direct control of the Ministry
of Interior.
Juror: - What was required from the persons sent by the Bulgarian administrative and police machinery?
Asen Bogdanov:
- They had to be abundant with the notion for bulgarisation of the Macedonian
people and for
keeping of these parts, at any cost, under Bulgarian rule. They had to
have the qualities of fighters
against the Movement for People's Liberation.
Juror: - Did they meet the expectations of their superiors who sent them to Macedonia?
Asen Bogdanov: - Yes.
Juror: - How?
Asen Bogdanov:
- With the struggle they lead and the unconditional application of the
Bulgarian government's
measures of terror, liquidation, execution, arson etc.
Juror: - Who did the killings: was it the military or the police?
Asen Bogdanov: - Both.
Juror: - How were they killed: by hanging, slaughter or shooting?
Asen Bogdanov:
- There were shootings, some died after being beaten to death, and some
after being thrown into
Vardar [river].