Сподвижниците на Васил Левски пред извънредната съдебно-следствена комисия в София 1872–1873 г.
The Adherents of Vasil Levski before the Special Judicial Committee of Inquiry in Sofia 1872-1873

Summary/Abstract: The proceeding recording of the Special Judicial committee, appointed by the Sublime Porte, reveal the worthy position of Vasil Levski as well as the foresight of his tactics. In comparison to him, the behavior of most of Bulgarians, involved in the Sofia Trial, seems at first to give an idea of mass confessions which are in discordance with their former activity and the oath of safeguarding the revolutionary organization secrets. The records of the interrogatories make a painful impression on the reader. Actually, the preserved Ottoman documents are fragmentary, as the records in them are incomplete. The investigators usually pay special attention to the brave behavior of three more outstanding committee figures besides Levski: Christo Kovachev, Dimitar Pashkov and M. Poplukanov. In the present article, the scrutiny of the records of proceedings reveals the worthy actions of other defendants who make attempts to express the political grounds of the Bulgarian Liberation Cause. Among the records of the extorted personal confessions can be found cases of firmly rejected accusations or attempts to mislead the inquiry in order to free from blame some suspect, to preserve a secret or a committee member who has escaped the prosecution till then. Undoubtedly, the daring words, uttered in court were meant to protect the national aspirations for the liberation of the fatherland from the Ottoman domination, for equality and for a future republic. The main defendants in the trial in Sofia were convicted according to the clauses of the Ottoman Penal Law, dealing with political crimes. The Sublime Porte admits officially the political motives of the patriot’s actions, without easing their sufferings as exiles in Minor Asia. However, this appears to be a new approach to the previous practice of law suiting Bulgarians, accused of rebelliousness. It is well grounded to consider the trial in Sofia 1872-1873, which signed Vasil Levski’s sentence.

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