Yane Sandanski

Yane Ivanov Sandanski (Bulgarian: Яне Иванов Сандански, Macedonian: Јане Иванов Сандански, romanized: Jane Ivanov Sandanski; Originally spelled in older Bulgarian orthography as Яне Ивановъ Сандански (Yane Ivanov Sandanski); 18 May 1872 – 22 April 1915) was a Macedonian Bulgarian revolutionary and leader of the left-wing of the Internal Macedonian-Adrianople Revolutionary Organisation (IMARO).

In his youth Sandanski was involved in the anti-Ottoman struggle, joining initially the Supreme Macedonian-Adrianople Committee (SMAC). As an activist of the Liberal Party (Radoslavists), at that time he became the head of the local prison in Dupnitsa. Later Sandanski switched to the IMARO by pledging his loyalty to Gotse Delchev. He was the mastermind behind the abduction of American Protestant missionary Ellen Stone in order to secure funds for IMARO. After the Ilinden Uprising, Sandanski became the leader of the Serres revolutionary district and of the socialist inspired left-wing ("federalist") faction of IMARO. With his superior leadership he managed to establish a "state within the state" in northeastern Ottoman Macedonia. The left-wing advocated for autonomy for Macedonia and Adrianople regions, and the subsequent creation of a Balkan Federation, attaining equality for all its subjects and nationalities. Sandanski and the left-wing also vigorously resisted the idea of unification of Macedonia with Bulgaria. During the Second Constitutional Era he became an Ottoman politician, collaborating with the Young Turks and founding the People's Federative Party (Bulgarian Section). Sandanski took up arms on the side of Bulgaria during the Balkan Wars (1912–13). Afterwards, he became involved in Bulgarian public life again, supporting the Democratic Party, but began plotting to assassinate the Bulgarian Tsar Ferdinand I and was executed by the rivalling IMARO right-wing faction activists on the order of Todor Aleksandrov.

He is recognised as a national hero in both Bulgaria and North Macedonia, but his identity is also disputed between both countries. While People's Republic of Bulgaria honoured him, after the fall of communism he has been described by Bulgarian nationalist historians as a betrayer of the Bulgarians and collaborator with the Turks. On the contrary, in North Macedonia, the positive connotation of him, created in the times of Communist Yugoslavia is still alive, and he has been portrayed there as a fighter against the "Bulgarian aspirations in Macedonia" and the "Turkish yoke."