Podcast in English
Audio Player
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

US State Department defines Bulgaria as country with high corruption and endangered human rights

Photo: Wikipedia

In its annual report on human rights for 2021, the US Department of State reports that Bulgaria has significant human rights problems. The report also highlights serious problems with judicial independence, corruption, intolerance and restrictions on free expression, including threats of violence against journalists and corporate and political pressure on the media. 

The part of the report concerning Bulgaria was published by the US Embassy in Sofia. The document expresses concern about the "lack of judicial control against a prosecutor's decision not to initiate an investigation" and the influence of the prosecution on the Supreme Judicial Council and magistrates. 

The US State Department does not omit the data on illegal wiretapping and surveillance in Bulgaria, referring to the conclusion of the special commission in the National Assembly for over 900 people, including politicians, magistrates and journalists, monitored during the anti-government protests in 2020 . The investigation into police violence against protesters pulled by police under the columns of the Council of Ministers was also mentioned.

The document also cites a statement from May last year of former BNR director general Andon Baltakov that the law favours political interference in media management through controlled funding, as an example of how independent media have been pressured at all levels.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

National interest is protected in agreement with Greece on the water of Arda River

The national interest is protected. There is no dominant or subordinate position in inter-neighborly relations. This is how Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov responded to a parliamentary question from Vazrazhdane party about the..

published on 5/9/25 11:42 AM

Bulgaria did not stop the plane of the Serbian president from flying to Moscow

Bulgaria had no reason to prohibit the plane of President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić from flying over Bulgarian airspace en route to Moscow for the military parade on May 9. This was what Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said in..

published on 5/9/25 10:37 AM

With the introduction of the euro all accounts will be converted free of charge

The Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) will stop announcing the base interest rate after the introduction of the euro as national currency. This is stated in the series of questions and answers with which the central bank explains the..

published on 5/9/25 9:37 AM