The book "Belene - The Island of the Forgotten" by Nedyalko Geshev—one of the earliest and most valuable testimonies of the Belene labor camp—was officially presented to a packed room. The event brought together historians, public figures, and readers for an honest conversation about memory, the totalitarian past, and its impact on our democracy today.
 

The discussion featured the author's son Dimitri Geshev, researcher Borislav Skochev, and writer Zahari Karabashliev. They emphasized how personal stories shape the broader historical narrative and why it is crucial to understand the history of communism in our country.
 

Among the most moving moments of the evening were Dimitri Geshev's memories of his father - the only person who managed to escape the camp twice. The audience also heard the extraordinary story of Évelyne Carlier. Inspired by her friendship with Nedyalko Geshev, she learned Bulgarian to visit his home village, which she did in 2024.

"Belene – The Island of the Forgotten" is now available for order on the Ciela Publishing website.

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The event is a joint initiative of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium, the Embassy of France, the French Institute in Bulgaria, Ciela Publishing House, the America for Bulgaria Foundation, and the Sofia Platform Foundation.