The bust-monument of Bulgaria's late communist dictator has been stolen from his grave at Sofia's central cemetery.

Todor Zhivkov, whose grave was desecrated, was Chief Secretary of the Bulgarian Communist Party (BCP) and a former Head of State. He ruled the country for 35 years.

Zhivkov fell from presidency and was expelled from BCP after an internal party coup in November 1989. In June 1990 Bulgaria faced its first democratic election for 59 years and with the collapse of the Soviet bloc by 1992 the country entered a period of transition to free market economy.

Todor Zhivkov died in 1998 in his house in Boyana district in Sofia.

"Nobody usually comes to Zhivkov's grave", a worker at the cemetery told reporters.

"Maybe people don't have the time", the gravedigger added.

Alley 10 at the cemetery where Zhivkov rests is also known as the Alley of Power, as many former communist leaders are buried there.

Many of the graves at the alley have faced the same fate of desecration.

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