Bulgaria bids farewell to its second cosmonaut, Alexandar Alexandrov

Bulgaria paid its final respects to its second cosmonaut, Alexandar Alexandrov, who passed away on Friday at the age of 74. He flew to the Mir space station in 1988, becoming the second Bulgarian to travel into space.

Family, friends, and officials gathered at the Central Military Club in Sofia to bid farewell to the retired major general.

"Bulgaria is saying goodbye to one of its modern-day heroes. He was a distinguished Bulgarian officer, our cosmonaut, a man who dedicated his life to Bulgaria, to its glory, and to space science. I hope that one day the legacy he left behind will be carried forward by his younger colleagues and supported by our institutions, because thanks to him and Georgi Ivanov, Bulgaria was recognized as a spacefaring nation," President Iliana Yotova said.

Chief of Defence Admiral Emil Eftimov also paid tribute to Alexandrov.

"Through his professionalism, his responsibility, and his courage to take Bulgaria to such heights, he set an example for all of us. We hope to follow the path he left behind. May he rest in peace," Eftimov said.