Gospodin_I

Gospodin I (or Mister I in English) is Ilia (therefore the “I”) Iliev Markov. Born on 17 March 1984 in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Grew up in a neighbourhood next to the central rail station of Sofia. The same was considered a “working hood” but that did not really matter after 1989. What mattered were the people I grew up around. Mostly simple Bulgarians but I was always happy about my friends and surroundings. I think that experience made me to an extent what I am today.

Primary school - 133rd “A. S. Pushkin” - mostly known as the “Russian school” since the language was taught from first grade (it was not run by Russians or anything like that). To the present day one of my greatest pains is that I never learned Russian.

High school - II English Language School “Thomas Jefferson”. Probably the place that made its greatest impact on my life. Also, the place where I spent the best five years of my life and made so many friends.

After I graduated from high school I went to the University of Essex in Colchester, England, UK where I spent three years studying International Relations and Politics. Definitely the place that moulded my political thinking, values, and ideas.

Currently living in Sofia, working in the private company of my family, studying French and wondering what to do next. Also working for the BSY (see below).

Political affiliations:

Member of the Bulgarian Socialist Youth (BSY) since January 2003.

I began my participation in the Organisation as co-founder of Club “Oborishte” in Sofia. Nearly two years later, on 5 January 2005, I was elected Chairperson of Club “Oborishte”.

Two months ago I also became member of the City Council of BSY Sofia and was elected member of the Executive Bureau and Deputy Chairperson of the City Council.

On the VII Congress of BSY which was held on 25-26 November 2006 I was elected member of the National Council of BSY and a week later I was also elected member of the Executive Bureau of the National Council and Secretary of the National Council with portfolio - social and political activities, national campaigns and public relations.

However, the Congress ratified changes in the statutes of BSY under which members can no longer hold simultaneously positions of leadership on the national and regional levels and I have to resign as Chairperson of “Oborishte” and Deputy Chairperson of BSY Sofia. I think we are the first organisation to adopt such strict but in the same time appropriate measures.

While I studied in Essex I was also involved for two years in the European society. In my second year as a student I was elected Treasurer of the club and in my last year I was President. I dare say that we did quite a few good things about promoting the European agenda on the otherwise Euro-sceptic campus. The main events of the two years was the visits of - Luxembourg and Turkish representatives from the respective embassies to talk about Turkey joining the EU in the first year; and of the Austrian Ambassador to the UK, who gave “an Austrian perspective on the EU”.

General interests:

Politics (naturally), international relations, European integration. Keen supporter of the European Union and the European project as a whole. A socialist with very temperate (almost centrist) views. Sympathizer of the “Third way” and Tony Blair’s “New Labour”. Also reformer, environmentalist, supporter of human rights and the fight against global poverty.

Other interests include music: hip-hop, RnB, reggae, dancehall, classical jazz (I absolutely love it!). But also Balkan folk music, of course Bulgarian traditional and contemporary music, other ethnic music from around the world and… film music (The Godfather and Black Hawk Down’s OST’s are among my favourites).

Reading is another passion I have acquired great taste for. After three years in Essex all the reading I have begun to limit myself to was academic - serious politics books and fantasy but now I am back I am broadening my focus again with other types of literature, although my duties do not leave me much time for reading lately.

The one hobby I have actually devoted a lot of my spare time to is role play gaming or RPG. And all the time devoted has been worth it because I found a good group to practice it with and so far it has been great fun and it helped me to distress a lot.