Bulgaria Places Former Minister On Trial

Chronicle (Levin), 2 December 1949, Page 5

Bulgaria Places Former Minister On Trial

SOFTA, Nov 30. Tbe Bulgarian News Agency annonneed tbat tbe former Bulgarian DeputvPremier (ATr Traicbo Kostovl will sbortly stand trial ebarged witb having tried to arre?t and "pbysieallv annihilate" tbe late Bulgarian Prime ATinister CATr Georgi Diinitrov). The indietment. against Kostov alleges tbat he plotted against tbe regitne witb tbe eonnivane.e of tbe British Intelligence Serviee, wbieh, it says, Kostov contacted tbrough a Colonel, Bailey. A later message from tbe TTnited Press Sofia correspondent says Kostov was formallv ebarged today witb: — First. — Having plotted witb Britain. tbe United States, and Marsbal Tito, for tbe overthrow of tbe Bulgarian Government. Secondlv. — Plotted tbe assassination of tbe late Bulgarian Premier (Mr Dimitrov). Tbirdly. — Planned tbe annexation of Bulgaria to Yugoslavia. A 20,000 word indietment said tbe British Intelligence ehief in tbe Balkans (Colonel William Bailey) and tbe United States Minister in Soiia (Mr Donald Heatb) had given Kostov instruetions. Tbe indietment added tbat the United States had reacbed complete agree ment with Marsbal Tito on tbe plot. It said that Kostov was instructed by Mr Heath to aecept advice from Marsbal Tito as having eome from the United States Government. Kostov will be tried along with:--thp former Finance Alinister flvan Stefanov) and a senior eivil servant also indieted as ringleaders in the plot I by the Supreme Court from whose findings there is no appeal. Eight otliers, including the heads of State enterprise?, diplomats, and Communist Party leaders, also were mentioned in Gre indietment, and will be tried like ^he other three by the Supreme Court.