Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

The only Bulgarian media correspondent in Russia has been told to leave the country

BNR: The expulsion of Angel Grigorov from Russia is a purely political act and is detrimental to the freedom of access to information

Photo: Private archive

Russia has ordered the correspondent of the Bulgarian National Radio in Moscow, Angel Grigorov, to leave the country in response to the decision of the Bulgarian authorities to expel from Bulgaria the correspondent of the state-owned Rossiyskaya Gazeta newspaper, Alexander Gatsak.

A message on the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry says that our colleague has been told to hand over his accreditation documents as a "reciprocal measure" in response to the "persecution" of Gatsak by Bulgaria's State Agency for National Security which has declared him "a threat to national security".

"Guided by the principles of media freedom and pragmatic cooperation, the Russian side will be ready to consider the possibility of resuming the work of the BNR correspondent in Moscow if the Bulgarian government takes a positive decision to accredit the journalist of Rossiyskaya Gazeta in Sofia," the statement of the Russian Foreign Ministry further reads.

Today, Angel Grigorov has been notified of the decision by an employee of the Information and Press Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "The person who contacts me on all important matters. On November 7, Tuesday, I have to hand over my credentials in person at the building of the Russian Foreign Ministry. It is not yet clear by what date I have to leave the territory of the Russian Federation. I guess that I will be informed at the meeting on Tuesday," Grigorov explained to BNR. He added that from today he has no right to perform his functions as a correspondent of BNR.

The Bulgarian National Radio issued a statement regarding the revocation of the accreditation and the expulsion from the Russian Federation of the correspondent of the public-service media Angel Grigorov, in which it states:

"The management of the Bulgarian National Radio categorically states that in all his work as a correspondent in Moscow for more than 6 years, our colleague Angel Grigorov has strictly observed international professional and ethical journalistic standards.

The expulsion from Russia of the only Bulgarian media correspondent is a purely political act and is detrimental to the freedom of access to information. BNR is disappointed by the attempt to use the accreditation of our correspondent in Moscow as a tool for pressure and a bargaining chip on the part of the Russian side."



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

Bulgarian wins Women in Tech Global Lifetime Achievement Award 2024

Bulgarian Sasha Bezuhanova, an internationally recognized manager in the digital industry and philanthropist, received the prestigious international Women in Tech Global Lifetime Achievement Award 2024 for her contribution to the..

published on 11/19/24 2:51 PM
Shot from hijacking

Prayer held in Varna for the release of two Bulgarian sailors held captive by the Houthis

Today marks one year since the hijacking of the ship "Galaxy Leader" by the Houthis in the Red Sea. On this occasion, a prayer service for the health and freedom of two Bulgarian sailors, who are still held in captivity, was held at..

published on 11/19/24 2:17 PM
Dimitar Glavchev

No increase in social security contributions is planned

Caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev said that no increase in social security contributions is being planned. Glavchev attended the presentation of a new, state-of-the-art artificial intelligence, operating in Bulgarian and..

published on 11/19/24 12:15 PM