Kostadin Kostadinov (politician)

He was born on 1 April 1979 in Asparuhovo, PR Bulgaria.

He completed his master's degree in Balkan studies in 2002 and his master's in Law in 2011 at Veliko Tarnovo University. In 2017 Kostadinov completed his Ph.D. in Ethnography and Folklore in the Ethnographic Museum of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. In 2004 he filmed a documentary on Bulgarians in Albania, and in 2005 published the film 'We are One Nation' – directed to the Bulgarians in Aegean Macedonia. He is also the author of the film 'Forgotten Land', devoted to the Bulgarians in North Dobrudja, filmed in 2009.

In 2016, disappointed by what he perceived as falsifications and forgeries of Bulgarian history in contemporary Bulgarian textbooks – he wrote a history textbook ({{Langx|bg|Учебник по Родинознание}}) aimed at children from grades 1st through 4th.

In 2017, he released his next book, 'Guide to the Ancient Bulgarian Lands' in which over 100 revered places of Bulgarian history are named and detailed.{{cite web |url= https://vazrazhdane.bg/%D0%BB%D0%B8%D1%87%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B8/15-%D0%BA%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%B8%D0%BD-%D0%BA%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2 |title= "Личности" |publisher= vazrazhdane.bg |access-date= 5 November 2019 |language= bg |archive-date= 28 November 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201128195725/https://vazrazhdane.bg/%D0%BB%D0%B8%D1%87%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B8/15-%D0%BA%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%B8%D0%BD-%D0%BA%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2 |url-status= dead }}

In 2018 Kostadinov divorced his wife Velina, they have two children, Todor and Denitsa. They had been married since 2003.{{cite web | url=https://pik.bg/сигнал-до-пик-костя-копейкин-със-спешен-развод---спасява-имотите-купени-с-милионите-от-суб-news981463.html | title=СИГНАЛ ДО ПИК: Костя Копейкин със спешен развод - спасява имотите, купени с милионите от субсидията (ДОКУМЕНТ) - Информационна агенция ПИК }}

In 2014, Kostadinov founded the Revival party.

In 1997, Kostadinov became a member of VMRO ({{Langx|bg|ВМРО}}) and its coordinator for Northeast Bulgaria (2002–2009).{{cite web |url=http://www.vmro.bg/kostadin-kostadinov-pred-sega-blgarite-shche-sme-1/ |title= "Костадин Костадинов пред Сега: Българите ще сме малцинство в собствената си държава" |publisher= vmro.bg |access-date=16 March 2017 |language= bg}} He was regional coordinator for the provinces of Varna, Shumen, and Dobrich from 2002 to 2009, and from 2007 through 2012 he was a member of the National Executive Committee of the party. In 2013, he left VMRO because of the re-election of its leader, Krasimir Karakachanov, and in the same year ran as a member of the also nationalistic NFSB party.{{cite web |url=http://www.moreto.net/novini.php?n=207034&c=01 |title= "Кои са кандидат-депутатите във Варна" |publisher= moreto.net |access-date=16 March 2017 |language= bg}}

He participated in the founding of the far-right Revival in Bulgaria in June 2014. The constituent assembly took place in Pliska.{{cite web |url=http://www.cross.bg/partiya-vuzrazhdane-natzionalisticheska-1416312.html |title= "Нова националистическа партия учредяват в Плиска" |publisher= cross.bg |access-date=16 March 2017 |language= bg}}{{cite web |url=http://www.varna.utre.bg/2014/06/18/236610-kostadin_kostadinov_slaga_nachaloto_na_nova_partia |title="Костадин Костадинов слага началото на нова партия" |publisher=utre.bg |access-date=16 March 2017 |language=bg |archive-date=16 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316035249/http://www.varna.utre.bg/2014/06/18/236610-kostadin_kostadinov_slaga_nachaloto_na_nova_partia |url-status=dead }}

On 3 November 2019, Kostadinov and Revival went on a run-off vote for the mayor position in Varna (the 3rd largest city in Bulgaria) and accumulated 14.3% in the first round of voting and 35.99% in the runoffs.{{cite web |url=https://results.cik.bg/mi2019/tur2/rezultati/0306.html|title= "Местни Избори – Резултати" |publisher= cik.bg |access-date=5 November 2019|language= bg}}

Revival gathered 2.45% support at the April 2021 parliamentary election, remaining below the 4.0% needed for entry into the parliament.{{cite web | url = https://results.cik.bg/pi2021/rezultati/ | title=Обобщени данни от избор на народни представители|publisher=cik.bg |date=4 April 2021 |access-date=8 May 2021|language = bg}} In the July 2021 parliamentary election it gathered 2.97%. In the November 2021 general election Revival gathered 4.86% and entered the parliament gaining 13 seats. In the October 2022 parliamentary election – 4th place, 9.83% and 27 seats. In the April 2023 parliamentary election – 3rd place, 13.58% and 37 seats.

Kostadinov has also expressed anti-Roma views, describing Roma people as "parasites" and "non-human vermin that has no place in Bulgaria".{{cite web |last1=Kostadinova |first1=Simona |title=Kostadin 'Kopeykin' Kostadinov - the new Siderov |url=https://www.mediapool.bg/kostadin-kostadinov-kopeikin-noviyat-siderov-news303086.html |website=mediapool.bg |access-date=2 March 2022 |date=5 February 2020}}Няма страшно. Това е просто предизборна кампания] Енчева, Светла, toest.bg 12.01.2019 г.]{{cite web |date=28 December 2018 |title=Костадинов: Русофобската паплач ще отговаря пред съда за престъпленията си срещу България |url=https://offnews.bg/politika/kostadinov-rusofobskata-paplach-shte-otgovaria-pred-sada-za-prestaple-694596.html |access-date=2021-02-22 |work=offnews.bg}}{{cite news |author=Spasov, Spas |date=8 February 2020 |title=Лидерът на "Възраждане" - новият Волен |work= |newspaper=Dnevnik |publisher=dnevnik.bg |url=https://www.dnevnik.bg/bulgaria/2020/02/08/4022081_liderut_na_vuzrajdane_-_noviiat_volen/ |access-date=2021-02-22}}

In the summer of 2020, the Court in Sofia launched a procedure for the removal of "Revival" as a political party, on the grounds that it had been fraudulently established through gathering falsified signatures.{{cite web |url=https://bntnews.bg/news/prokuraturata-poiska-zalichavane-na-partiya-vazrazhdane-1065963news.html|title= Прокуратурата поиска заличаване на партия "Възраждане" |publisher= bnt.bg | author=Nikodimov, Ivo |date=20 July 2020 | access-date=8 May 2021 |language= bg}} However, in May 2021, the Supreme Court of Cassation ruled in favor of Kostadinov's party, establishing that there had been no irregularities.{{cite web |url=https://www.dnevnik.bg/bulgaria/2021/05/31/4215456_sudut_reshi_niama_narusheniia_pri_uchrediavaneto_na/|title= Съдът реши: няма нарушения при учредяването на партия "Възраждане" |publisher= dnevnik.bg | author=Ficheva, Ralitsa|date=31 May 2021 | access-date=18 November 2021 |language= bg}} In September 2020, Kostadinov was detained by the police during the protests opposing chief prosecutor Ivan Geshev and Borisov's administration.{{cite web |url=https://www.dnes.bg/obshtestvo/2020/09/02/lideryt-na-vyzrajdane-e-zadyrjan.461716 |title= Лидерът на "Възраждане" е задържан |publisher= dnes.bg | author=Yordanova, Veselina |date=2 September 2020 | access-date=25 October 2021 |language= bg}} His party has also been noted for its opposition to many of the pandemic control measures, the promotion of conspiracy theories and having strong reservations regarding the COVID-19 vaccines.{{cite web |url=https://www.svobodnaevropa.bg/a/30611832.html |title= Арести на протест на проруската партия "Възраждане" срещу кабинета, ваксините и Бил Гейтс |publisher= svobodnaevropa.bg | date=14 May 2020 | access-date=24 October 2021 |language= bg}} In March 2022, it was revealed that Kostadinov had received a 10-year ban from entering Ukraine, which has been attributed to the staunchly pro-Russian orientation of his party in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. His pro-Russian stance and activities had gained him the nickname 'Kopeikin', referring to his alleged ties and alleged financial support from the Russian government.{{cite web |url=https://nova.bg/amp/news/view/2022/03/07/360050/%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D1%80%D1%8A%D1%82-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%B2%D1%8A%D0%B7%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5-%D1%81%D1%8A%D1%81-%D0%B7%D0%B0%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%B4%D0%B0-%D0%B2%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D0%B2-%D1%83%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B9%D0%BD%D0%B0/ |title= Лидерът на "Възраждане" със забрана да влиза в Украйна |author=Nikolova, Ivelina |publisher= nova.bg | date=7 March 2022 | access-date=7 March 2022 |language= bg}}

In January 2025, Kostadinov expressed support for U.S. President Donald Trump's territorial claims on Canada and the Panama Canal.{{cite news|work=Novinite|url=https://www.novinite.com/articles/230227/Right-wing+Politician+Backs+Trump+on+Territorial+Expansion%2C+Urges+Bulgarian+Claims+on+Macedonia+and+Bessarabia|title=Right-wing Politician Backs Trump on Territorial Expansion, Urges Bulgarian Claims on Macedonia and Bessarabia|date=January 9, 2025}}

On 15 June 2023 a group of "Vazrazhdane" (Revival) supporters, led by the party's deputy Emil Yankov, attacked a cinema that screened an LGBTQIA+ movie, namely the 2022 movie Close, which won the Grand Prix award at the Cannes Film Festival. It also won the André Cavens Award for Best Film by the Belgian Film Critics Association and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film at the 95th Academy Awards.{{cite web | url=https://www.dw.com/bg/ima-ot-kakvo-da-pazim-decata-i-tova-ne-e-lgbti/a-65897098 | title=Има от какво да пазим децата. И това не е ЛГБТИ. – DW – 13.06.2023 | website=Deutsche Welle }}https://www.novinite.com/articles/220525/Bulgaria%3A+An+MP+and+Supporters+of+%22Vazrazhdane%22+again+Attacked+a+Cinema+that+Screened+LGBTQ%2B+Movie {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7emWcvcqHKQ | title=Да си гей не е ОК, Костадин Костадинов, Възраждане | website=YouTube | date=4 April 2019 }}

The attackers insulted those present at the screening in Plovdiv among whom was a pregnant woman. They also assaulted random passers-by to the bar next to the cinema, attacked a bar employee who just wanted to pass - claimed she was a "gender" and gave her advice on how to "heal from it". Then, led by Deputy Emil Yankov, they tried to storm the lobby of the cultural institution. They admitted that none of them had seen the film and had created impressions from retellings on social networking services. Some of Kostadinov's sympathizers were also with St. George ribbons, traditionally worn by supporters of the USSR and Russophiles.

{{Reflist}}

• {{in lang|bg}} {{Official website|http://kostadin.eu/}}

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Category:1979 births

Category:Living people

Category:Politicians from Varna, Bulgaria

Category:Bulgarian nationalists

Category:Bulgarian propagandists

Category:Bulgarian textbook writers

Category:Anti-Americanism

Category:Anti-Western sentiment

Category:Pro-Russian people of the war in Donbas

Category:Bulgarian eurosceptics

Category:Bulgarian anti-vaccination activists

Category:COVID-19 conspiracy theorists