Rayko Aleksiev

Rayko Nikolov Aleksiev (Bulgarian: Райко Николов Алексиев) (March 7, 1893 – November 18, 1944) was a Bulgarian painter, caricaturist, writer of feuilletons. He established Shturets, a hugely successful satirical newspaper, in 1932.

Known for his uncompromising satire, Aleksiev was especially unloved by Bulgarian communists due to his famous caricatures of Joseph Stalin. After the Bulgarian coup d'état of 1944 he was, like many other intellectuals, arrested by the newly formed people's militia. While under arrest, he was severely beaten in the course of several days, resulting in his death. He was also posthumously sentenced to death by the People's Court.

The main source for the facts of the end of his life are the memories of his widow, as described by Bulgarian writer Ivayla Aleksandrova's in her documentary novel Hot red. Detailed information is published in the Bulgarian Wikipedia discussion page