145 years since the Liberation of Bulgaria

March 3 is the official holiday of the Republic of Bulgaria. On February 19 (March 3) 1878 a preliminary peace treaty was signed between Russia and the Ottoman empire in San Stefano, near Constantinople. This treaty marks the end of the Russo-Turkish war, and the regaining of Bulgaria’s independence. The liberation of Bulgaria came as a result of the victory of Russia in the war declared on April 12 1877. During the war , 12 battalions of more than 120000 Bulgarians joined the Russian army and fought against the forces of the Ottoman empire. Bulgarian people celebrated this day for the first time in 1880, and since 1888 it has been celebrated as the Day of Bulgarian liberation from the Ottoman yoke. It was officially promulgated as Bulgaria’s national holiday on March 5 1990.