Bulgaria: Several Journalists Covering the Parliamentary Elections Faced Harassment and Intimidation
October 27, 2024 - Bulgaria
Damiana Veleva was obstructed by men at a polling station in Dolno Osenovo, facing threats to seize her phone. Diyana Zhelyazkova was threatened by Mayor Ismail Ibryam while reporting on voting violations in Vulnari. Zdravka Maslyankova encountered threats from a candidate's son in Veliko Tarnovo after probing into vote trading.
Women Press Freedom denounces these attacks on reporters. Journalists covering elections must be able to work without fear of intimidation or physical harm. We urge Bulgarian authorities to hold perpetrators accountable and reinforce law enforcement's role in safeguarding press freedom during elections.
Failure to address these violations could undermine democratic processes and establish a troubling precedent for media suppression in Bulgaria, where journalists already face challenging conditions and are often targeted by political figures.
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A man, who appeared uninvited and became verbally aggressive, forced the group to abandon the interview
