Vezhdi Rashidov
Encyclopedia
Vezhdi Letif Rashidov is a Bulgaria
n sculptor, GERB
politician and Minister of Culture of Bulgaria
.
Rashidov was born in Dimitrovgrad
to ethnic Turkish
parents; however, he moved to Haskovo
with his parents at age two. His mother Kadrie Lyatifova, a singer of Bulgarian and Turkish folk songs, died in a car crash when he was in primary school. His father Lyatif Rashidov was a miner in Madan
and so was his brother Ruzhdi who died at 36 of cancer. Until seventh grade, Rashidov lived and studied at an orphanage in Studen Kladenets near Kardzhali
. Rashidov then studied mining electrics and mechanics in Madan. He graduated from the National Academy of Arts
in Sofia
in 1978. As a sculptor, Rashidov has authored statuettes for a number of prominent prizes, as well as many large-scale works.
Despite being an ethnic Turk, Rashidov as a prominent social figure has been an outspoken critic of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms
. He participated in the 2009 Bulgarian parliamentary election as GERB's voting list leader and proportional candidate in Kardzhali Province
and became the first non-Movement for Rights and Freedoms candidate in many years to be elected to parliament from that constituency. As GERB decisively won the election and are in charge of forming a government, Rashidov was nominated as the party's Minister of Culture of choice.
Rashidov is married and has a child. In 2001, he was briefly arrested for assaulting a policeman.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n sculptor, GERB
Gerb
A gerb is a type of firework which produces a jet of sparks, usually lasting between 15 and 60 seconds. It is a thick-walled tube filled with pyrotechnic composition and possessing a choke, which is a narrowing in the tube...
politician and Minister of Culture of Bulgaria
Ministry of Culture (Bulgaria)
The Ministry of Culture of Bulgaria is the ministry charged with overseeing and stimulating the cultural work in the country and preserving its cultural heritage...
.
Rashidov was born in Dimitrovgrad
Dimitrovgrad, Bulgaria
Dimitrovgrad is a town in Haskovo Province, South-central Bulgaria, located close to the province capital - Haskovo. It is a newly founded settlement, built in the end of the 1940s. and named after the communist leader Georgi Dimitrov. The town is the administrative centre of the homonymous...
to ethnic Turkish
Turks in Bulgaria
The Turks in Bulgaria number 588,318 people and constitute 8.8% of those who declared their ethnic group and 8.0% of the total population according to the 2011 Bulgarian census. 605,802 persons or 9.1% of the population pointed Turkish language as their mother tongue. They are also the largest...
parents; however, he moved to Haskovo
Haskovo
Haskovo , is a city, an administrative centre of the homonymous Haskovo Province in southern Bulgaria, not far from the borders with Greece and Turkey. As of February 2011, it has a population of 74,843 inhabitants....
with his parents at age two. His mother Kadrie Lyatifova, a singer of Bulgarian and Turkish folk songs, died in a car crash when he was in primary school. His father Lyatif Rashidov was a miner in Madan
Madan, Bulgaria
Madan is a town in Smolyan Province, the very south of Bulgaria in the Yellow Share of the Rhodope Mountains. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous Madan Municipality. As of December 2009, the town has a population of 6,007 inhabitants.-Geography:...
and so was his brother Ruzhdi who died at 36 of cancer. Until seventh grade, Rashidov lived and studied at an orphanage in Studen Kladenets near Kardzhali
Kardzhali
Kardzhali or Kurdzhali is a town in Bulgaria, capital of Kardzhali Province in the Eastern Rhodopes. Near the town is the noted Kardzhali Dam.-Geography:...
. Rashidov then studied mining electrics and mechanics in Madan. He graduated from the National Academy of Arts
National Academy of Arts
The National Academy of Arts is an institution of higher education in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. It is the oldest and most renowned academy of arts in the country....
in Sofia
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
in 1978. As a sculptor, Rashidov has authored statuettes for a number of prominent prizes, as well as many large-scale works.
Despite being an ethnic Turk, Rashidov as a prominent social figure has been an outspoken critic of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms
Movement for Rights and Freedoms
The Movement for Rights and Freedoms is an ethnic Turkish party in Bulgaria. The MRF is a member of the Liberal International and considers itself a liberal party, rather like the Swedish People's Party - party of the Swedish-speaking minority of Finland...
. He participated in the 2009 Bulgarian parliamentary election as GERB's voting list leader and proportional candidate in Kardzhali Province
Kardzhali Province
Kardzhali Province is a province of southern Bulgaria, neighbouring Greece with the Greek prefectures of Xanthi, Rhodope and Evros to the south and east. Kardzhali Province area is 3209.1 km². Its main city is Kardzhali.-History:...
and became the first non-Movement for Rights and Freedoms candidate in many years to be elected to parliament from that constituency. As GERB decisively won the election and are in charge of forming a government, Rashidov was nominated as the party's Minister of Culture of choice.
Rashidov is married and has a child. In 2001, he was briefly arrested for assaulting a policeman.