Maria Zheleva

Maria Ivanova Marinova-Zheleva (, 3 April 1942 – 8 December 2013), sometimes transliterated as Mariya Zheleva or Mariya Jeleva, was a Bulgarian historian, film editor, film director, and screenwriter who served as the First Lady of Bulgaria from 1990 until 1997. Zheleva was the wife of Zhelyu Zhelev, the first non-Communist President of Bulgaria following the fall of communism in 1989. She remains the second longest serving first lady in Bulgaria's history.

Biography Maria Zheleva was born on 3 April 1942 in Grozden, Burgas Province, Bulgaria. Maria Zheleva was partly responsible for the eventual publication of her husband's book. Zheleva had suffered from lung disease for much of her life. She was buried in her home village of Grozden on 10 December 2013. Her husband, former President Zhelyu Zhelev, died in 2015.