Alexander Bozhkov, one of the most prominent faces of Bulgaria's transition from communism to democracy, died on August 23 2009 at the age of 58. Bozhkov had cancer and despite several operations in the past three years, failed to recover and died at the Military Hospital in Sofia.

Right-wing politician Bozhkov became a familiar face as part of the right-wing caretaker cabinet headed by Stefan Sofiyanski in 1997 and of the cabinet of Ivan Kostov, which was in office from 1997-2001, the first post-communist Bulgarian government to last a full four-year term.

Bozhkov was deputy prime minister and minister of industry in both cabinets as well as Bulgaria's first negotiator with the European Union in 1999-2000 as part of the country's ultimately successful efforts to become a EU member.

Bozhkov was also the founder and the first head of the state Privatisation Agency. In 1999 he was removed from his positions as part of Kostov's first reshuffle of his cabinet.

After that, Bozhkov withdrew from active politics but remained a constant feature in the country's economic and public life, mainly working as an economic analyst for the NGO Centre for Economic Development which he co-found and chaired. He was a frequent commentator in some of the most respected Bulgarian print publications.

Bozhkov was also on the board of the private New Bulgarian University where he also taught. He had his own show on private national Darik Radio, called Music For The Soul, where he played music to his taste and was popularly known as DJ Al Bosh. In the past three years, Bozhkov also had a very active personal blog.

He will be buried on August 26 in Sofia and the service will be held at Sveta Sofia church at 1pm.