REMEMBRANCE IN TIME - Index of

Anka IGNATOVA: Archival Documents as a Tool in the Hands of the Communist … 247
decided that the section will not draw up such lists and targeted types of confidential
documents will be collected in a regulation 31 .
In a higher confidential letter 197 of 27 September 1952 the Deputy Chief of Archival
Division Major E. Elias gave instructions to the directors of all public archives on how to
proceed with the incoming confidential documents, that might be used against national
security if available to hostile elements and foreign intelligence services, but also those
documents, which could be in favor of the Party and State security. Confidential should
be considered also "documents that are discrediting for individuals as reports and letters
brought by private individuals and others to fascist for the activities of communists,
guerrillas, illegal supporters, etc.; materials for some deviance in work after September 9,
1944; incriminated publications, literature and so on" 32 . For the secret documents found
during work process a "strictly professional secrecy" was required along with a report to
the Head of the Regional State Archive, who had to take the necessary measures 33 . Secret
documents found during working process that could be interesting for SS and BCP
required these institutions to be informed immediately. After documents were analyzed
and a list was done, those related to issues of local importance were reported to the head
of the Interior Ministry, and those that were of nation-wide importance were reported to
the head of the Archives management 34 . They were sent out by a courier of the district
state archives and if there was no such – via MI confidential mail 35 . The letter had to
contain instructions on measures that had to be taken by the chief of the archives for the
protection of classified documents released by a special regulation.
The regulation for handling confidential documentary materials in the state archives,
terms of use and storage had to be approved by the Minister of Interior in 17 July 1953 36 .
In letter 197 of 27 September 1952 the specific category of documents was determined as
the second of the three groups that are classified as confidential documents 37 . Working
with them and with other confidential documents was assigned to the secret archives of
government departments or "appropriate" employees. The regulation determined how
documents of interest for SS and the Party had to be handled. In principle the way of
handling was not different than that specified in the letter. These documents had to be
reported to the Director (Head) of the archive, which in turn had to report them to the
head of the District Police Department. If the materials were of particular importance
those had to be reported by the head of the archives management to the Ministry of
Interior. When confidential documents were requested, two copies had to be made - one
was sent to the addressee, and the second was kept in secret department. For bulky
materials only summaries were issued 38 . If any damage to the posted packages with
documents was found SS had to be informed immediately. Accepted and sent confidential
documents were listed in a separate list in State archives in special import and export
books 39 .
Regulations for the use of archival documents were extremely tight, as in "special
cases" the Director (Head) of the archive could allow the use of confidential material only
after the permission of DS" 40 . Among the limited number of outsiders who were allowed
to enter the Archive, were the authorized representatives of the State Security 41 .
At the end of July 1953, pursuant to a Ministerial Order, archive management ordered
to state archives to deliver police records to the local State Security branch or to send
them to SS – Sofia after consultation with the head of the Interior Ministry. After finding
of any documents related to police work, or data containing killings of anti-fascists, etc.
after the required copying the originals had to be sent to SS 42 .