{
  "id": 10704870,
  "title": "Greece to return remains of ancient Bulgarian tsar",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/greece-to-return-remains-of-ancient-bulgarian-tsar",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-29T13:35:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Citizen",
    "slug": "the-citizen",
    "url": "https://www.citizen.co.za/news/news-world/greece-to-return-remains-of-ancient-bulgarian-tsar/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev announced on Tuesday that Greece will return the remains of Tsar Samuel, one of the last sovereign rulers of Bulgaria before its conquest by the Byzantine Empire. Tsar Samuel governed from 997 to 1014. These remains, discovered during excavations in 1965 on a Greek-Albanian island, will be handed over in Thessaloniki during a ceremony hosted by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Radev praised Mitsotakis for his \"political courage\" and their shared \"friendship.\" Tsar Samuel's reign was characterized by battles against the Byzantines, culminating in his death from shock after a disastrous defeat when 15,000 of his men faced blinded soldiers under Byzantine Emperor Basil II. The remains will be flown to Sofia, where a public ceremony will precede their burial in the Church of Saint Sofia. Radev invited Bulgarians to join him in the procession. The Bulgarian government anticipates finalizing an agreement with Athens that includes the reciprocal transfer of historical, religious, and cultural artifacts and relics. Greece will also receive remains from two other sarcophagi and other royal family members, which Bulgarian authorities believe belong to Tsar Samuel's son and successor, Gavril Radomir. The Greek culture ministry stated that Greece will receive 48 objects from the dioceses of Serres and Nigrita, seized during World War I and held at the National Historical Museum in Sofia.",
  "summary": "Greece will also return remains linked to members of the Bulgarian royal family under a new cultural agreement.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}