Zhivkov, Todor (tô`dôr zhĭvkôf`), 1911–98, Bulgarian political leader. A printer, and a Communist party member from 1932, he rose to prominence as a partisan leader during World War II and headed the coup against the monarchy in Sept., 1944. In 1948 he became a member of the Communist party central committee. His steady rise culminated in 1954 when he became first secretary of the party. He served (1962–71) as premier before assuming (1971) the post of president of Bulgaria. He maintained close relations with the Soviet Union throughout his tenure, making Bulgaria the most compliant Soviet satellite. On Nov. 10, 1989, Zhivkov was ousted from the presidency following a revolt against him within the Communist party that was backed by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev Gorbachev, Mikhail Sergeyevich (mēkhəyēl` sĭrgā`yəvich gərbəchof`)
..... Click the link for more information. , and his supporters in the politburo were purged. His 1992 conviction on corruption charges was voided in 1996.

Zhivkov, Todor (Khristov)

(born Sept. 7, 1911, Pravets, near Botevgrad, Bulg.—died Aug. 5, 1998, Sofia) Bulgarian politician. The son of poor peasants, he drifted to the Bulgarian capital of Sofia in his youth and, in the late 1920s, joined the Komsomol, the youth league of the outlawed Communist Party. During World War II he organized a resistance movement, and after the war, he held posts in the Soviet-sponsored government, including head of the People's Militia. He became first secretary of the Bulgarian Communist Party in 1954, the youngest leader in the Soviet bloc, then served as premier (1962–71) and president (1971–89). He hewed closely to the Soviet line but encouraged industrialization and improved the country's living standard. When democratization reached Bulgaria, Zhivkov resigned (1989). Convicted of embezzlement, he was sentenced to house arrest in 1992.