Todor Zhivkov and the Arts 1966

Todor Zhivkov , Bulgaria's Communist leader for 35 years, regularly met writers and artists.

There were very few among them who didn’t feel obliged to attend, or privileged.

Here is one of those gatherings, in Borovets, spring 1966. The newly-elected leader of the Writers’ Union Georgi Djagarov is pledging loyalty to the Communist party. His message is clear: 'Writers are obliged to further embrace the ideas of Communism, reflect its glory and beauty… We are the bearers of a new spirituality.' There'll be no 'Sofia Spring' in 1968.

Audio starts at 2'11"