History of the Macedonian Tribune

Borislav Ivanoff was born on October 15, 1924, in the city of Nevrokop (Gotse Delcheff), Pirin Macedonia. In 1938 he joined the Macedonian Youth Organization (which was illegal after the anti-Macedonian Zveno coup of 1934). In 1942 he was elected the organization's president. Under his leadership and hardwork, the membership grew from 120 to 500. Borislav, with the help of young women, established a Women's Section. He also organized effort to collect financial help for poor students.

During the summer of 1942, the group organized the first Ilinden celebration to be held since the coup. It was organized by Ilia Popivanoff, an Ilindenets.

Later that summer a group organized by Borislav, Popivanoff and the Shar Corporation paid their respects at the grave of Todor Alexandroff.

In September 1943, he was conscripted into the army. For the full year of 1944, Borislav studied at the School for Reserves Officers. He was graduated with honors.

Borislav was arrested for his work for Macedonia in February 1945. Even though he was tortured for several nights, he did not betray his friends. Thanks to the intervention of his brother Dimiter he was freed.

A few months later Borislav returned to Sofia for treatment of his legs. He met with Vlado Kurteff, a member of the last Central Committee of IMRO. According to Kurteff, the communists (who took power in 1944) had promised not to bother our people if they would not participate in the political life of the country. Borislav was expected to induct the participants of the Macedonian movement into this new political line.

The communists kept their promise only one year. In June of 1946 the most prominent Macedonian leaders disappeared. Many others were arrested and sent either to camps or prisons.

Borislav escaped the purge because he was living with his brother Vancho in the village of Bresnitsa, Nevrokopsko, Pirin Macedonia. However, his brother Dimiter was arrested. Later he was freed because the police actually wanted Borislav. Early one morning Borislav left Bresnitsa for Sofia. He then went to Varna where he lived in the Morskata gradina [a famous park] for three weeks. Soon after, he returned home to show the police that he wasn't hiding from them.

In 1947 a secret police agent infiltrated the group promising to help them escape from communist Bulgaria. However, the police came to the last meeting, arrested them, and sent them to prison for many years. Chairman of the court Michail Smatrakaleff and Prosecutor Kiril Nicoloff were responsible for the dismal fate of many young people.

Borislav was arrested briefly in connection with their trials but was freed again thanks to his brother Dimiter's influence.

In 1948 he was constantly followed by a communist secret police agent, who wanted to convince Borislav that our people were Macedonians by nationality. The agent also wanted Borislav to inform the authorities about his friends' activities and to work as an agent for the communist authorities.

About the same time, Borislav was informed by a friend that if he were to be arrested he would never leave prison alive.

From that moment he started planning his escape. He organized a group of 15 young men and drew up a plan of how and where to cross the border into Greece. He did not finish law school in which he started in 1945 because of his escape.

The group successfully crossed the border on April 25, 1948. After short stops in Zarnevo, Drama and Salonika, the group was sent to a refugee camp in Lavrion where living conditions were extremely bad.

Several weeks after they arrived at the camp, Borislav was contacted by an American and a representative of the Greek authorities. The American asked Borislav if he would be interested in helping other people escape from communist Bulgaria. After carefully discussing this proposal with his friends, they decided to do it. The operation was successful, and the group helped several good people, most of whom they knew, to escape.

After that, Borislav's group was sent to Athens where they engaged in another series of talks with the Americans. Borislav was elected leader of the group, even though he was reluctant.

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