The monument commemorates the pioneers of Bulgaria’s cooperative movement, paying tribute to Todor Vlaikov and Todor Yonchev, the visionaries behind the country’s inaugural cooperative, the “Mirkovo Loan, Savings, and Agricultural Company ‘Oralo,'” established in Mirkovo village, Sofia region, on October 26, 1890. This initiative was inspired by the cooperative principles and became known as Bulgaria’s Rochdale. In recognition of their contribution, a bronze bas-relief with the likenesses of Todor Vlaikov and Todor Yonchev was crafted and placed within a dedicated artistic ensemble. The composition stands in the pre-pylon area in front of the CCS (Central Cooperative Union) building, honoring their significant role in the cooperative movement’s inception in Bulgaria.
