site.btaCaretaker Justice Minister: Efforts Underway to Prevent Courts Being Used Against Media

Caretaker Justice Minister Andrey Yankulov said in a Facebook post on Friday that the Ministry of Justice will work to establish clearer rules to ensure courts are not used as a tool for attacks against the media.

He highlighted so-called SLAPP cases (strategic lawsuits against public participation) as a key priority, adding that Deputy Minister Andrey Georgiev is directly engaged on the issue. Concrete steps are expected in the coming weeks.

Yankulov noted that EU-level measures are also being implemented, including a directive against such lawsuits, with draft legislative texts in Bulgaria already prepared and pending approval for public consultation.

His comments come amid an exchange between Burgas District Court and investigative outlet bird.bg over account freezes imposed on journalist Dimitar Stoyanov.

The minister called for a constructive tone in public debate, urging that criticism of court rulings be well-argued, while acknowledging the pressure faced by journalists investigating wrongdoing.