Revolutionary Tsanko Dyustabanov

Tsanko Hristov Dyustabanov (13 May 1844–15 June 1876) was a Bulgarian national revolutionary and participant in the April Uprising of 1876. He was born in Gabrovo and was the son of a wealthy collector of the livestock tax.

Tsanko Dyustabanov graduated from Gabrovo Class School and studied at Robert College in Constantinople in 1872–1873. He spoke excellent French and Turkish. He partnered with the Gabrovo lawyer Hristo Arnaudov, and together they translated the Napoleonic Code from Turkish and Greek into Bulgarian.

In 1873, Tsanko Dyustabanov returned to Gabrovo and devoted himself to public and patriotic activity. He was elected to the school board in 1875. That same year he organised a town assembly at which a mahzar, or petition, was drafted to the government, demanding the abolition of the military exemption tax, recognition of the Bulgarian language and recognition of Bulgarians' right to regular military service.

Despite his initial reluctance towards revolutionary struggle, Tsanko Dyustabanov became a member of the Gabrovo Local Revolutionary Committee. He became chief voivode of the First Tarnovo Revolutionary District during the April Uprising. He led a detachment in the Batoshevo, Kravenik and Novo Selo area and held out against numerous attacks by Turkish forces. Despite the strong resistance, the uprising was suppressed.

Severely wounded in the arm, Tsanko Dyustabanov hid in the hamlet of Buynovtsi. He was betrayed, captured and sent to Veliko Tarnovo, where he was tried before the Tarnovo court-martial. During the trial, Tsanko Dyustabanov spoke the famous words preserved in the history of the April Uprising.

Sentenced to death together with Ekim Tsankov, the priest Ivan Gabenski, Todor Kirkov and Stefan Peshev, Tsanko Hristov Dyustabanov was hanged on 15 June 1876 in Tarnovo, Bulgaria.