Ex-PM Simeon Saxe Coburg were among the thousands who paid tribute to the work and personality of late Bozhidar Abrashev. The prominent composer was culture minister in Saxe-Coburg's first cabinet 2001-2005. Photo by Nadya Kotseva (Sofia Photo Agency)
Thousands of people - family, friends, colleagues, students, musicians, statesmen and ordinary folks - flocked to pay last respect to late composer Bozhidar Abrashev.
The former culture minister was bid last farewell also by Simeon Saxe-Coburg, who assigned to Abrashev the culture's chair in his first cabinet 2001-2005.
Letters of condolences were sent by the President, the Prime Minister and the Parliamentary Speaker, all of them appraising highly the talent, wisdom and contribution of the personality, the statesman and the professional Abrashev.
Bozhidar Abrashev passed away on November 6, 2006 due to cardiac embolic crisis.
Abrashev is the author of a large number of scholarly papers and publications and has composed some 60 opuses and music pieces - symphonies, chamber music, vocal works.
He became Culture Minister in 2001 on the ticket of centrist Simeon II National Movement, and was replaced in February of 2005 in one of many cabinet reshuffles.