Alexander Yanchulev

Alexander Stefanov Yanchulev (Bulgarian: Александър Стефанов Янчулев; 7 October 1938 – 9 June 2026) was a Bulgarian politician, civil engineer, university lecturer and writer, who was a member of the Union of Democratic Forces (SDS). In October 1991, Yanchulev become the first democratically elected Mayor of Sofia, having won the capital city's first mayoral election.^[1][2] (All previous Sofia mayors had been appointed or elected by the city's municipal councils).^[2] Yanchulev served as Sofia's mayor from 1991 until 1995 during Bulgaria's early transition to democracy following the 1989 fall of communism.^[1][2]

Yanchulev was born in Sofia, Kingdom of Bulgaria, on 7 October 1938.^[1] His father Stefan Yanchulev, was a journalist and publicist. He graduated with a degree in hydraulic engineering from the Civil Engineering Institute, which is now part of the present-day University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy.^[1] He later became a professor and university lecturer of hydraulic engineering and land reclamation for several decades.^[1]

Following the fall of the People's Republic of Bulgaria communist government in 1989, Yanchulev became active in politics and joined the Union of Democratic Forces (SDS) political party.^[1] He served as a member of the 7th Grand National Assembly of Bulgaria, which wrote and adopted the current Constitution of Bulgaria on 12 July 1991.^[1]

On 13 October 1991, Yanchulev won Sofia's mayoral election, becoming the city's first directly elected and democratically elected mayor in the city's history.^[1][2] He served one term from 1991 until 1995. Yanchulev's tenure as mayor coincided with a severe financial crisis for Bulgaria and his city, as well as financial crunches on the municipal level.^[1] He also guided the capital city through a water crisis from 1994 to 1995, which required residential water rationing due to critically low water levels at the Iskar Reservoir.^[1]

He restored the historic coat of arms of Sofia and the city's flag, both of which had been altered by the previous communist regime.^[1] He also established September 17 - the feast day of Saints Faith, Hope and Charity and their mother, Sophia of Rome - as the official holiday of the city of Sofia.^[1]

In 2021, Yanchulev published his memoir, "No Makeup and Retouching", which recounts the challenges and major events of his mayorship.^[1] He also published several books and articles on the history of Sofia.^[1]

Yanchulev died on 9 June 2026, at the age of 87.^[1]