In its position , the Association of European Journalists - Bulgaria condemned the synchronized attack on the media and journalists by the leader of "Vazrazhdane" Kostadin Kostadinov, the chairman of "DPS-New Beginning" Delyan Peevski and the leader of GERB Boyko Borisov. DW spoke with Maria Cheresheva, chairman of AEJ - Bulgaria.
Delyan Peevski, the "Vazrazhdane" party and Boyko Borisov directly attacked journalists and the media, declaring them to be conduits of foreign influence. A similar campaign has been conducted for days by certain publications and influencers online. Do you see a coordinated attack in these actions?
Maria Cheresheva: We at the Association of European Journalists (AEJ) have been monitoring the media environment in Bulgaria for over 15 years and these attacks very rarely happen independently of each other. The ball is now being raised by Kostadinov, which is nothing new - he has a long-standing position against media that work with foreign funding, and has also contributed to calling them "grant-givers" and "Sorosoids". These are terms that have been purposefully developed and are related to Russian propaganda, which the "Vazrazhdane" party quite openly defends. In this case, the Magnitsky-sanctioned leader of "DPS - New Beginning" Delyan Peevski and Boyko Borisov, who declare Euro-Atlantic positions, are impressive. The big question is what their problem is with funding from the US and the European Union. Do they think that America considers them an enemy?
Proof that we are talking about a coordinated attack is the numerous publications in certain media outlets that, in terms of their editorial policy, seem close to these parties. Certain influencers on social networks have exploded in the last week with attempts to denigrate and silence the few media outlets in Bulgaria that allow themselves to be critical of Borisov, Peevski and other powerful political figures.
"This is pure propaganda"
It is important to point out that if there were no foreign funding for journalistic projects, there would be no investigations like "The Eight Dwarfs", for example. Speaking of which, who and why are they hindering?
Maria Cheresheva: Yes, some of the biggest journalistic investigations in recent years, including "The Eight Dwarfs", have been realized thanks to the work of media outlets and foundations that use foreign funding. Media outlets such as "The Guardian", DPA, TAC, "France Presse", "Bellingcat" and many others also use foreign funding. A policy of strengthening international funding is being pursued, including by European institutions, which are very well aware that the media, especially in Central and Eastern Europe, are overwhelmed and need resources so that journalists can work. The attempt to push the thesis that foreign funding protects foreign interests is pure propaganda.
GERB did not support the bills of Peevski and "Vazrazhdane", but Boyko Borisov expressed similar theses as their sponsors. What is stopping them?
Maria Cheresheva: It is striking that Boyko Borisov has been guarding himself for years and trying to hold others responsible for the attacks on the media - such as Peevski and "Vazrazhdane" in this case. GERB is still the largest party in Bulgaria, which is considered a guarantor before the European People's Party and other international institutions. This is nothing new - I do one thing, I say another. Peevski and the media considered to be controlled by him have served Borisov himself many times, as colleagues such as Miroljuba Benatova recalled. We are watching the same old song with a new voice.
Add to this the rise to power of Donald Trump, the extremely aggressive rhetoric against the media and journalists, as well as anyone who allows themselves to be critical of the government, and the total drift towards authoritarianism. They have given new wings to our autocrats.
"We are observing a replacement of reality"
What are the biggest risks arising from the policies of Trump and Musk, including with regard to foreign financing?
Maria Cheresheva: The risks are not small, and for me the most dangerous are the attacks against the foundations of liberal democracy. From Musk and Trump we see a conquest of the system of work of American institutions. We believe that in the USA there is a system of control - checks and balances - that would not allow any president to take control of the state. Now we see something completely different - Musk, who is authorized to enter ministries, collect information, fire people. At the same time, this is the richest person in the world, who controls a large social network. If they start to take control of other communication channels, serious risks arise for the spread of propaganda and changing the way we consume information.
Regarding funding - I do not think that the suspension of USAID funding is dangerous for Bulgaria, because Bulgarian media have not received almost any funds from USAID for years. This faucet, which is rumored to be turned off, was turned off with our entry into NATO and the European Union. However, we should not ignore the impact of these decisions on our region. In Eastern Europe and the Black Sea region, there are many investigative media outlets that receive a significant portion of their funding from these funds.
For me, however, the most dangerous thing is what is happening at the rhetorical level. Since Trump came to power and Musk and the other techno-oligarchs made their decisions, there has been significant aggression towards the journalistic community. We are observing a replacement of reality in which our work is becoming increasingly complicated.
During the GERB government, Bulgaria had cemented itself in last place in terms of media freedom in the EU. Print media, and not only, were controlled, key journalists lost their jobs. What are the biggest risks now that Borisov's party is back in power?
Maria Cheresheva: During the GERB era, we observed the most serious control of the media and direct "emptying of seats", to quote politicians from that time. I think that these processes are happening again to some extent, but I think that in the future they will be in a more perfidious way. At the same time, we also have many more independent media projects, including online ones, which have shown that critical voices can find their audience. The control of the big media, which there are fears has already begun, will harm citizens' access to independent and objective information.
Borisov said that journalists' salaries were "many times better than those of ministers". Do you have similar observations in AEJ?
Maria Cheresheva: This statement is the height of cynicism. AEJ conducts a survey on freedom of speech every two years. In it, we collect data not only on the environment and pressure, but also on working conditions. The situation is not at all rosy. In 2024, we reported that journalists work under poor financial conditions, significant stress and record political pressure against the background of previous surveys. So I do not know what information Anton Hekimyan gave to Boyko Borisov regarding media salaries. We do not have direct insight into the financial situation of Bulgarian publications, but what we know from personal experience and from colleagues is that his claim is absolutely false.
What should society and the media do to avoid a Georgian scenario - as the most recent example?
Maria Cheresheva: If I had known, I would have done it. No one wants things in our country to develop as in Georgia and Hungary, where I have direct insight into the control of the media. In my opinion, the most important thing is for citizens to support independent journalists - those who bring them the information that the powerful of the day do not want to be heard. The most sustainable journalism is the one that is supported by its viewers, listeners and readers. Choose your media or journalists and support them, including financially. Verifying information, telling stories and creating a quality media product costs money. To be sure who pays for it, it's best to pay for it ourselves.
Author: Alexander Detev