Lukanov, Andrey

▪ 1997

      Bulgarian politician (b. Sept. 26, 1938, Moscow, U.S.S.R.—d. Oct. 2, 1996, Sofia, Bulg.), was prime minister (1990) during the first stage of Bulgaria's transition from communism to democracy and later became a powerful critic of the government. Educated in the Soviet Union, Lukanov entered the Bulgarian foreign service in 1963, the same year that he became a member of the Bulgarian Communist Party. He held a series of senior posts during the communist regime, including minister of foreign economic relations (1987-89), before helping to orchestrate the overthrow of longtime dictator Todor Zhivkov in November 1989. Lukanov served as prime minister from February to November 1990, when he resigned owing to Bulgaria's rapid economic deterioration. In 1992, during the rule of Prime Minister Filip Dimitrov, Lukanov was held in custody for six months during a period when he was investigated for allegedly having enriched (1980s) his purse from the public coffers. Lukanov was never brought to trial, however, and he subsequently was appointed chairman (1995) of the Bulgarian-Russian gas company Topenergy. When Bulgaria's socialist government came to power in January 1995, his sharp criticism and vociferous support for democratic reform attracted publicity. In an apparent move to improve relations with the new Bulgarian government, Topenergy removed Lukanov from his post in July 1996. Lukanov was shot and killed by unknown assailants as he left his downtown apartment building in Sofia.

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