That is particularly galling for Mr Kostov because western businessmen, after years of viewing post-communist Bulgaria as a disaster, were just beginning to take another look.

ECONOMIST: NATO and Bulgaria

Other former leaders of their countries to pass away included Constantine Karamanlis, who was president as Greece restored democracy in 1974, and Todor Zhivkov, who ruled communist Bulgaria for 35 years until 1989.

BBC: Goodbyes

He would falsely tell the police that Narayana was criticizing the communist government in Bulgaria.

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