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Baba Tonka museum in Ruse Photo: BGNES
The Baba Tonka Museum in Ruse re-opened Tuesday after twenty-three years.
The house that belonged to the mother of revolutionary Nikola Obretenov will host a brand new exhibition dedicated to the freedom movements and revolutionary fights in Bulgaria prior to the San Stefano Peace Treaty of 1878.
''A whole generation of Ruse citizens hasn't had the chance to see the museum,'' Museum Director PhD Nenov said. '' It was established in 1958 but people have come here to meet Nikola Obretenov even in the 1930s. He was one of Hristo Botev's allies and one of the longest-living rebels who fought in Bulgaria's freedom movement.''

Hristo Botev is one of the most prominent revolutionaries who led the freedom fight against the Ottoman Empire and lost his life at the April Uprising of 1876. A number of his inspired allies continued the struggle and eventually were victorious at the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78.
Baba Tonka was the mother of Nikola Obretenov and hosted a number of revolutionaries who were trying to escape death.
In 1992 the museum was closed on account of the fact that it was in bad condition, the construction of the building was deteriorating and sinking.
According to Mayor Plamen Stoilov practically half of the museum was re-built as two years ago the final amount of BGN 250, 000 was raised for the necessary renovation.
The official re-opening ceremony was conducted right after the official celebration of Bulgaria's Liberation Day in front of the Freedom Monument in downtown Ruse.
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