Hundreds of mourners gathered Tuesday at the National "Ivan Vazov" Theater in downtown Sofia to bid farewell to prominent Bulgarian actor Andrey Batashov.

Batashov passed away Monday from multiple organ failure. He was 45.

Politicians, actors, directors and just fans of Batashov were among those wishing to pay last respect such as the Speaker of the Parliament, Tsetska Tsacheva, the Minister of Culture, Vezhdi Rashidov, the leader of the National Movement for Stability and Prosperity (NMSP), Hristina Hristova, and other party members, former Finance Minister, Milen Velchev – a close friend of Batashov, and volleyball star, Plamen Konstantinov, who said he got to know the actor during the election campaign in the summer of 2009.

Several famous actors and directors spoke about Batashov, his life and his work, while others sent him away with a last round of applause accompanied by some of his favorite music playing in the foyer.

Members of the Bulgarian Parliament opened their Tuesday session with a minute of silence in remembrance of the actor.

Batashov was born on December 10, 1965 in the city of Volgograd in Russia.

In 1989, he graduated from the National Academy of Theater and Film Art (NATFA) in Sofia. He taught directing and acting at NATFA since 1996.

Batashov has been part of the troupe of the National "Ivan Vazov" Theater and since 2004 has done freelance directing and acting.

He is most popular for his one-person show "Sex, Drugs and Rock'n'Roll," which he staged more than 500 times.

Batashov has over 40 drama and film roles in Bulgarian and foreign movies.

The actor was also an Member of the Parliament from the centrist National Movement for Stability and Prosperity of former Tsar, Simeon Saxe-Coburg in the previous government.

He used to say that his greatest obstacles in life were inside his soul.

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