Podcast in English
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

Temperatures will go down on Sunday, snow is expected in Northeastern Bulgaria

The weather will be cloudy during the next 24 hours. Snow will fall in the northeastern part of Bulgaria, which will spread to many regions of Northern Bulgaria during the day. It will rain in the southern parts of the country. Snowfall will be..

published on 2/15/25 5:20 PM
Rumen Radev (L) and Hakan Fidan (R)

Rumen Radev and Hakan Fidan discuss connectivity between Bulgaria and Türkiye

Expanding connectivity between Bulgaria and Turkiye is an investment in the development of the entire region, President Rumen Radev said at a meeting with Türkiye's Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan within the framework of the Munich Security..

published on 2/15/25 5:09 PM

A new law will normalize pricing along the supply chain

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food will draft a law aimed at normalizing relations along the entire supply chain – from primary production, through processors, the distribution of primary products and food, as well as wholesale and retail trade,..

published on 2/15/25 2:50 PM