Remains of medieval Tsar Samuel return to Bulgaria after decades-long dispute with Greece

The remains of the medieval ruler Tsar Samuel arrived in Bulgaria on Saturday after decades of negotiations with neighboring Greece, in a handover marked by considerable state ceremony. The remains, discovered in a Greek border area some 60 years ago, were flown to the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, aboard a military aircraft.

The arrival was received with full state honors, including an escort by fighter jets, a 21-gun salute and a procession to the Church of St Sophia, where members of the public will have the opportunity to pay their respects to the medieval ruler's remains.

A long-running bilateral dispute resolved

The return of Tsar Samuel's remains closes out a decades-long dispute between Bulgaria and Greece over the fate of the discovery, reflecting the historical and symbolic weight both countries attach to artifacts and remains tied to the medieval Bulgarian state. The ceremonial nature of the handover underscores the significance Bulgaria places on reclaiming a figure central to its medieval history.

Greece's prime minister has linked the gesture to a separate, long-standing cultural dispute, expressing hope that the handover of Tsar Samuel's remains might help persuade Britain to return the Parthenon marbles to Greece, a case Athens has pursued for years in its own right.