REMEMBRANCE IN TIME - Index of

Lora DONCHEVA: The Group of Immigrant Anarchists … 35
members of the National committee and Dr. G. M. Dimitrov. Nestorov defined the words
of the agrarian leader as “small talk”. He summarized the meeting as: “He (Dimitrov)
didn’t tell us anything, but only cried up what the National committee did”. The letter
also reveals Nestorov’s expectations of the meeting: “We were just waiting for him to
talk about our common deeds. We dropped him a hint that we are ready for joint
coordinated actions to help our people in the country and release them from the severe
situation...” Nestorov declared that “"it would be great to do something for the martyrs
behind the curtain" 17 . In his memoirs I. Rachev also confirmed the willingness for active
cooperation. He noted that soon after his arrival in Paris in February 1951, the Americans
were interested and wanted to talk to him. I. Rachev was adamant that his answer could
only be positive and said: "... in the interest of the struggle for the liberation of the
Bulgarian people, I'm willing to talk to anyone, but I cannot be a whip or a gun in
anyone’s hands" 18 .
These facts, showing serious conflicts between immigrants anarchists, were directly
related to the orientation of I. Rachev’s group about organizing an armed group to be
transferred to Bulgaria and join the opposition. They upholded their views in ideological
disputes within the organization revealing the motives for undertaking this difficult and
risky task. As a result of the conflict among immigrants anarchists in September 1952
Bogdan Stefanov (one of Nestorov’s aliases) and I. Rachev were excluded from the
organization. Despite the common declaration which recognizes the need of more
intensive actions in overthrowing the communist regime and the unification of all forces
of resistance within the country, a decisive step towards deepening the crisis in the
anarchy movement among the emigration was made. According to the facts stated in the
bulletin, "In defense of anarchy” as early as August 20, 1952 a letter to the associates
abroad was prepared. This letter reported their exclusion as a result of the unanimous
decision of the organization in Paris. Although they said in the Declaration on the
Bulgarian liberation that they reject any cooperation with the fascists, as a reason for the
exclusion was stated as “dishonest behavior against the organization" consisting of
cooperation "with the reactionaries and fascists to create a guerrilla movement in
Bulgaria" led by Damian Velchev 19 . Nestorov and Rachev were accused in negotiating
with “Zveno” in October 1951 and signing a declaration of cooperation with them in
February 1952. In October 1952 the journal "Our way" published an official
announcement that "Bogdan Stefanov and I. Rachev are excluded from the organization
of the anarchists abroad”. This was because their activities are “incompatible with the
moral and the principles of the anarchists”. The same issue reported that a “group of
ideological friends” observed Doncho Karaivanov’s behaviour in Yugoslavia. They
concluded that “his behavior is not in harmony with the movement he claims he belongs
to” and D. Karaivanov "cannot and should not belong to the same ideological
backgrounds and should no longer engages them" 20 .
The active member of the anarchy organization in Paris in 1951 Ivan Drandov said that
the exclusion of Rachev and Nestorov is due to their “cooperation with the U.S. Secret
Service at the Embassy in Paris for military training to conduct fight against Bolshevism
in Bulgaria" 21 . Drandov claimed that this happens through a monarchist-fascist officers
without the knowledge of the organization.
What was the position of the excluded? There is a document titled "Why I oppose the
exclusion of Bogdan?" from 1952. In this document I. Rachev reasonably rejected all
allegations against Hr. Nestorov. He criticized the lack of consistency among those who