Karlo Lukanov
Encyclopedia
Karlo Todorov Lukanov was a Bulgaria
n politician of the Bulgarian Communist Party
and Minister of Foreign Affairs
from 1956 to 1962. His father Todor Lukanov and his son Andrey Lukanov
were both prominent socialist and communist politicians.
, a city in north central Bulgaria, to the family of Todor Lukanov, a socialist politician and member of the National Assembly of Bulgaria
from Lovech
. In 1917, he graduated from the Military School for Reserve Officers and took part in World War I
as part of the Bulgarian Army's 26th Artillery Regiment. In the same year, Lukanov joined the Bulgarian Workers' Social Democratic Party (Narrow Socialists), a precursor of the Bulgarian Communist Party
.
In 1921, Lukanov graduated in law
from the Clement of Ohrid University of Sofia
to become a lawyer in Pleven. During the White Terror
which ensued in the wake of the St Nedelya Church assault
of 1925, he was sentenced to four years in prison, but amnestied in 1926. Shortly thereafter, Lukanov moved to the Soviet Union
, where he worked as a clerk at a construction company. From 1927 to 1944, he was on the books of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks), later known as the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
. In 1936, Lukanov left for Spain
, where he remained until 1939. In Spain, Lukanov took various governing positions within the International Brigades
that assisted the Republican forces
in the Spanish Civil War
. After his return to Moscow
, Lukanov worked at the Comintern
and from 1941 on at the Hristo Botev
Bulgarian-language radio.
Following the 9 September coup d'état
of 1944, Lukanov returned to Bulgaria, where he was appointed director of the Bulgarian National Radio
by the newly-established communist government. He went on to hold various offices, including deputy chairman of the State Planning Commission, a ministry-rank institution in charge of the People's Republic of Bulgaria's planned economy
(1947–1949), chairman of the Committee for Science, Art and Culture (1949), chairman of the State Planning Commission (1949–1952) and deputy Prime Minister of Bulgaria (1952–1954) under Valko Chervenkov.
In 1954, Lukanov was elected member of the Central Committee
of the Bulgarian Communist Party, a post he held until the end of his life. From 1954 to 1956, he was Bulgarian ambassador to the Soviet Union, Mongolia
and Finland
. Upon his return to Bulgaria Karlo Lukanov was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs
under Anton Yugov
(1956–1962) and briefly deputy Prime Minister (1956–1957). After his release from the government, he was sent to Switzerland
as Bulgarian ambassador (1963–1966). He died in Sofia
on 15 July 1982.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n politician of the Bulgarian Communist Party
Bulgarian Communist Party
The Bulgarian Communist Party was the communist and Marxist-Leninist ruling party of the People's Republic of Bulgaria from 1946 until 1990 when the country ceased to be a communist state...
and Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Bulgaria)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria is the ministry charged with overseeing the foreign relations of Bulgaria. It has been in existence since shortly after the Liberation of Bulgaria, with the first minister stepping into office on 17 July 1879...
from 1956 to 1962. His father Todor Lukanov and his son Andrey Lukanov
Andrey Lukanov
Andrey Karlov Lukanov was a Bulgarian political figure.-Biography:Lukanov was born in Moscow, USSR, in the family of Karlo Lukanov, , a Bulgarian communist emigre....
were both prominent socialist and communist politicians.
Biography
Karlo Lukanov was born in PlevenPleven
Pleven is the seventh most populous city in Bulgaria. Located in the northern part of the country, it is the administrative centre of Pleven Province, as well as of the subordinate Pleven municipality...
, a city in north central Bulgaria, to the family of Todor Lukanov, a socialist politician and member of the National Assembly of Bulgaria
National Assembly of Bulgaria
The National Assembly of Bulgaria is the unicameral parliament and body of the legislative of the Republic of Bulgaria.The National Assembly of Bulgaria was established in 1879 with the Constitution of Bulgaria.-Ordinary National Assembly:...
from Lovech
Lovech
Lovech is a town in north-central Bulgaria with a population of 36,296 as of February 2011. It is the administrative centre of the Lovech Province and of the subordinate Lovech Municipality. The town is located about 150 km northeast from the capital city of Sofia...
. In 1917, he graduated from the Military School for Reserve Officers and took part in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
as part of the Bulgarian Army's 26th Artillery Regiment. In the same year, Lukanov joined the Bulgarian Workers' Social Democratic Party (Narrow Socialists), a precursor of the Bulgarian Communist Party
Bulgarian Communist Party
The Bulgarian Communist Party was the communist and Marxist-Leninist ruling party of the People's Republic of Bulgaria from 1946 until 1990 when the country ceased to be a communist state...
.
In 1921, Lukanov graduated in law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
from the Clement of Ohrid University of Sofia
Sofia University
The St. Clement of Ohrid University of Sofia or Sofia University is the oldest higher education institution in Bulgaria, founded on 1 October 1888...
to become a lawyer in Pleven. During the White Terror
White Terror
White Terror is the violence carried out by reactionary groups as part of a counter-revolution. In particular, during the 20th century, in several countries the term White Terror was applied to acts of violence against real or suspected socialists and communists.-Historical origin: the French...
which ensued in the wake of the St Nedelya Church assault
St Nedelya Church assault
The St Nedelya Church assault was an attack upon St. Nedelya Church in Bulgaria. It was carried out on 16 April 1925, when a group of the Bulgarian Communist Party blew up the roof of the St Nedelya Church in the capital Sofia. This occurred during the funeral service of General Konstantin...
of 1925, he was sentenced to four years in prison, but amnestied in 1926. Shortly thereafter, Lukanov moved to the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, where he worked as a clerk at a construction company. From 1927 to 1944, he was on the books of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks), later known as the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
Communist Party of the Soviet Union
The Communist Party of the Soviet Union was the only legal, ruling political party in the Soviet Union and one of the largest communist organizations in the world...
. In 1936, Lukanov left for Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, where he remained until 1939. In Spain, Lukanov took various governing positions within the International Brigades
International Brigades
The International Brigades were military units made up of volunteers from different countries, who traveled to Spain to defend the Second Spanish Republic in the Spanish Civil War between 1936 and 1939....
that assisted the Republican forces
Second Spanish Republic
The Second Spanish Republic was the government of Spain between April 14 1931, and its destruction by a military rebellion, led by General Francisco Franco....
in the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
. After his return to Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, Lukanov worked at the Comintern
Comintern
The Communist International, abbreviated as Comintern, also known as the Third International, was an international communist organization initiated in Moscow during March 1919...
and from 1941 on at the Hristo Botev
Hristo Botev
Hristo Botev , born Hristo Botyov Petkov , was a Bulgarian poet and national revolutionary. Botev is widely considered by Bulgarians to be a symbolic historical figure and national hero.-Early years:...
Bulgarian-language radio.
Following the 9 September coup d'état
Bulgarian coup d'état of 1944
The Bulgarian coup d'état of 1944, also known as the 9 September coup d'état and called in pre-1989 Bulgaria the National Uprising of 9 September or the Socialist Revolution of 9 September was a change in the Kingdom of Bulgaria's administration and government carried out on the eve of 9 September...
of 1944, Lukanov returned to Bulgaria, where he was appointed director of the Bulgarian National Radio
Bulgarian National Radio
Bulgarian National Radio is Bulgaria's national radio broadcasting organization. It operates two national and seven regional channels, as well as an international service – Radio Bulgaria – which broadcasts in 11 languages.-National:...
by the newly-established communist government. He went on to hold various offices, including deputy chairman of the State Planning Commission, a ministry-rank institution in charge of the People's Republic of Bulgaria's planned economy
Planned economy
A planned economy is an economic system in which decisions regarding production and investment are embodied in a plan formulated by a central authority, usually by a government agency...
(1947–1949), chairman of the Committee for Science, Art and Culture (1949), chairman of the State Planning Commission (1949–1952) and deputy Prime Minister of Bulgaria (1952–1954) under Valko Chervenkov.
In 1954, Lukanov was elected member of the Central Committee
Central Committee
Central Committee was the common designation of a standing administrative body of communist parties, analogous to a board of directors, whether ruling or non-ruling in the twentieth century and of the surviving, mostly Trotskyist, states in the early twenty first. In such party organizations the...
of the Bulgarian Communist Party, a post he held until the end of his life. From 1954 to 1956, he was Bulgarian ambassador to the Soviet Union, Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
and Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. Upon his return to Bulgaria Karlo Lukanov was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Bulgaria)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria is the ministry charged with overseeing the foreign relations of Bulgaria. It has been in existence since shortly after the Liberation of Bulgaria, with the first minister stepping into office on 17 July 1879...
under Anton Yugov
Anton Yugov
Anton Tanev Yugov was a leading member of the Bulgarian Communist Party served as Prime Minister of the country from 1956 to 1962. Anton Tanev Yugov is Honorary Citizen of Tirana, Albania....
(1956–1962) and briefly deputy Prime Minister (1956–1957). After his release from the government, he was sent to Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
as Bulgarian ambassador (1963–1966). He died in Sofia
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
on 15 July 1982.