Revolutionary Petar Stanchev

Petar Stanchev, also known as Asenov and Vola, was a Bulgarian revolutionary who played a significant role in the activities of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organisation (IMRO).

He was born on 6 April 1893 in Berkovitsa, where he also graduated from the Second Boys' High School. In 1911 he briefly served in a Supremist detachment in Macedonia, then returned to Sofia and completed his secondary education. In 1912 he volunteered for the Macedonian-Adrianople Volunteer Corps, serving in Boris Iliev's detachment during the Balkan War. In 1914 he graduated from the reserve officers' school in Sofia and served as a company commander in Macedonia during the First World War.

After IMRO was re-established under Todor Aleksandrov, Petar Stanchev became actively involved in its work. In 1920–1921 he served in Todor Aleksandrov's detachment, operating in the Kratovo and Štip regions.

In 1924 he was secretary of Lazar Divlyanski's Skopje detachment and fought in the major engagement near Kolitsko on 22 September. Following Lazar Divlyanski's death, Stanchev was appointed Skopje voivode but later returned to Bulgaria.

In 1925 he was responsible for security at the IMRO congress in Sarbinovo, after which he was appointed district voivode for Veles. He also helped prepare Mencha Karnicheva to carry out the death sentence on Todor Panitsa.

Petar Stanchev died on 6 August 1925 in a battle with Serbian troops in the Tikveš region. The Serbian authorities buried his body and those of some members of his detachment at an unknown location. His sacrifice and commitment to the Macedonian cause remained in the memory of those who knew him, his profound devotion and uncompromising character expressing his belief in the ideals of Macedonia's freedom and independence.