site.btaMedia Review: May 29

DISINFORMATION 

Mediapool: Espionage scandals, influence and propaganda in schools, disinformation networks, and fake news websites — these are just some of the tools used in Russia's hybrid war against the West, particularly intensified since the start of the war in Ukraine three years ago. Most analyses show that the Russian disinformation network focuses primarily on former Soviet states, Central and Southeastern Europe — including Bulgaria.

This is also confirmed by an analysis conducted by experts from the Center for Information, Democracy, and Citizenship at the American University in Bulgaria and Sensika Technologies. It covers a total of 643,601 articles in 45 countries during the period from December 2024 to March 2025.

“Disinformation is widespread across Europe. But also, of course, here — in Bulgaria. This is a front-line country when it comes to Russian disinformation efforts. Russia will continue trying to influence the discourse in Bulgaria, that’s certain,” said British diplomat Jack Hands in an interview with Mediapool at the end of 2024.

Despite various studies showing that Bulgaria is one of the most vulnerable countries to Russian propaganda in Europe, at the institutional level the country still fails to take the necessary measures to tackle the issue. Most efforts against Russian disinformation come from NGOs, investigative journalists, and civic activists.

“There are people in institutions who are willing and trying to fight disinformation, but they complain about the lack of legal framework. Because to this day, three years after the start of the war in Ukraine, we don’t have a mechanism to enforce sanctions against Russia. Disinformation isn't only Russian — there’s Chinese, for example. But Russian disinformation could be stopped if sanctions were applied more effectively, and if many media outlets didn’t translate and spread content from Russian websites,” commented Georgi Angelov, a former journalist and now an expert at Sensika Technologies.

He adds that the battle is even harder on YouTube and Telegram, where networks like “Pravda” operate. They distribute news from numerous websites, creating the illusion of multiple sources of information, when in reality most of the content originates from Russian state media and institutions.

According to Angelov, one of the most effective methods for spreading disinformation not only among the public but also among government officials is through the psychological technique of reflexive control. Described by Soviet and American scholar V.A. Lefebvre, it is “a process in which one party transfers to the other the reasoning for decision-making.”

“When you’re flooded with the same information from all directions, at some point you start to believe it’s your own opinion — not something imposed from outside. Then you claim it as your own view, and say everyone has the right to one. That’s one of the principles,” Angelov explains.

For over six years, there have been talks of creating a coordination unit to combat disinformation under the Council of Ministers, but it has never materialized. Back in 2019, Boyko Borissov’s third government announced that such a unit had been set up before the European elections. Even then, it was clear it wasn’t actually functioning.

Angelov argues that the first step should be to understand how the mechanism of Russian disinformation in Bulgaria works. Then, key government institutions should compel the State Agency for National Security (SANS) and the cybercrime unit (with the Interior Ministry’s General Directorate for Combatting Organized Crime) to block the spread of such networks and websites.

For a few months during the Nikolay Denkov government in 2023 and early 2024, the Council of Ministers maintained a section on its official Facebook page to counter disinformation. But once the regular government fell, the caretaker government did not continue the initiative.

According to Yordan Bozhilov, chair of the Sofia Security Forum and former Deputy Minister of Defence, the lack of a strategic communications unit under the Council of Ministers is a serious problem. The institutional failure to respond to Russian propaganda has multiple causes.

“First, the government is too volatile. Second, the people making decisions don’t understand the issue at all. And what seems most problematic to me is that different institutions have different attitudes toward the problem. The President has one position, the government another, and in parliament there are big disagreements. This does not encourage a unified national policy. But above all, there seems to be an underestimation of the risk, neglect of the issue, and lack of knowledge,” Bozhilov said.

Authorities have made some attempts — a special unit was set up in the Ministry of Defense in March 2024 to monitor disinformation online and in traditional media. It still operates and publishes short fact-checking materials.

“Fact-checking and debunking false information are important, but I believe the fight against disinformation, propaganda, and fake news should be primarily proactive. That means two things: first, on important national issues, there must be an active information policy, including strategic communication (STRATCOM). When that exists, it becomes much harder for fake news and disinformation to take hold. Second, we need quality education, because we lack critical thinking,” emphasized Bozhilov.

He believes the initiative must come primarily from the government.

“There are a few good examples. In the UK and the Netherlands, there’s a strategic communication system starting from the prime minister and flowing down to ministries, regional governors, etc. It’s the Council of Ministers’ responsibility to oversee internal and external policy and security policy. Combating disinformation should become part of the national security policy,” said Bozhilov, who recently organized a free course on strategic communications for all government agencies — only a few representatives from two or three ministries attended.

“It’s precisely because of such inaction that we now have a widespread Russian disinformation campaign, with fake news being spread by organizations and political figures,” the former deputy defense minister added.

In the National Assembly, pro-Russian and pro-European parties frequently clash from the parliamentary rostrum. MPs struggle to reach consensus on these matters, even though a pro-European majority supposedly exists. The only group that actively raises the issue of Russian propaganda is We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria. At the end of last year, the coalition even proposed creating a temporary committee to investigate Russian influence in Bulgaria, but it was never voted on in the plenary hall.

“In words, there is a pro-European majority that wants to fight Russian influence. In practice, the actions are quite inconsistent. The committee wasn’t supported. A year ago, we proposed a bill targeting many aspects of current disinformation campaigns — mostly Russian — but it would apply to any foreign interference. The government shows no effective response. Neither counterintelligence, nor the Ministry of Defense, nor the Ministry of e-Government are taking action,” said Yes, Bulgaria co-chair Bozhidar Bozhanov to Mediapool.

He said that while he was Minister of e-Government, the ministry’s charter included the terms “hybrid threats” and “disinformation” to empower it to tackle the issue. But those terms have since been removed.

According to Bozhanov, a legal framework is essential to provide a basis for action on this important issue.

“A new Electronic Communications Act is expected, which would implement the Digital Services Act. It includes some countermeasures, but they are quite weak. The measures I proposed in 2022 included creating an analytical unit, later expanded with concrete definitions of foreign digital interference. We need institutions that not only analyze but also develop tools — like the French agency, which recently took down 200 anonymous websites later revealed to originate from the Kremlin,” he said.

He added that many concrete steps could be taken, but first a legal framework and personnel are needed.

“I always clarify this point, because Russian proxies — and not only them — twist the narrative and say this would be censorship. That’s not true. It's never about evaluating content as true or false. No state body or politician should judge ‘truth.’ That’s a political issue — we often argue in parliament about what’s true or not. The goal is to track systemic online effects, which aren’t visible to the naked eye. With the right tools, people, and structures, you can see how propaganda spreads,” Bozhanov explained.

Bulgaria’s northern neighbor, Romania, also faces serious difficulties combating Russian hybrid attacks — especially evident during its presidential elections. One major channel for spreading pro-Russian and anti-European narratives was TikTok.

There, videos often appear where Russian President Vladimir Putin seemingly addresses Romanians, talking about war between Russia and the EU. After an investigation by HotNews, Romania’s National Audiovisual Council (CNA) launched a review of pro-Putin and pro-Russian content and began removing such material.

The Council described the deleted videos as “highly controversial commentary that went viral and could lead to serious public misinformation and mass dissemination of fake news.”

Multiple journalistic investigations showed that former far-right Romanian presidential candidate Călin Georgescu gained popularity through a massive online campaign supported by Russian interference. Other reports revealed that Georgescu and George Simion’s Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) were the main beneficiaries of around 27,000 fake TikTok accounts.

Like Bulgaria, Romania has no specific law targeting disinformation. In recent months, the Romanian government planned a regulation to empower the National Authority for Management and Regulation in Communications of Romania (ANCOM) and other institutions, including security services, to restrict access to illegal content, fake news, hate speech, and unregulated election campaigns. However, the project has yet to be realized, and the presidential administration has called on institutions to apply existing laws.

Romania’s Defense Ministry also plays a role, managing the InfoRadar platform to monitor Russian-origin disinformation. CNA can also request that ANCOM remove fake news from online platforms and social networks.

In Poland, there is also no dedicated institution to fight disinformation consistently. However, Russian influence is monitored and restricted by the Internal Security Agency (ABW). In May, the government launched a joint campaign between the Ministry of Digital Affairs and the National Academic Network to protect the election process — detecting and countering election-related disinformation.

This initiative includes monitoring social networks like X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Telegram, and verifying online content. The aim is to prevent the spread of fake information that could affect election outcomes and undermine public trust. The program also features regular analytical reports, training sessions, and tools for public use.

Estonia and Lithuania still struggle with Russian disinformation on social media, but they have responsible institutions addressing the challenge.

Estonia’s Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority monitors traditional media, and Russian propaganda channels are banned. Numerous NGOs actively combat propaganda online, some with financial support. Estonia’s security service and prosecutor’s office prosecute illegal propaganda, and Russian propagandists have been expelled from the country.

The Lithuanian Radio and Television Commission (LRTK) monitors the enforcement of sanctions against Russian media in the country and investigates approximately 20 cases per month. When disinformation is confirmed, fines are imposed in accordance with Lithuania’s Law on Public Information, which can reach up to 3% of a media outlet’s annual turnover or up to 100,000 euros.

The Ministry of Defense, the police, and the prosecutor’s office also have the authority to track reports, including through "virtual patrols" on social media.

“When the police’s virtual patrol receives a report from social media users about profiles or posts that may be spreading disinformation, the information is verified. If the suspicion is confirmed, the profile or content in question is reported via Facebook’s built-in system or through a special law enforcement request channel,” says a expert with a Lithuanian investigative body.

The Strategic Communication Department of the Lithuanian Armed Forces has also been monitoring the information space for more than 10 years.

“Teams of military analysts monitor and assess the hostile information environment, primarily that coming from Russia and Belarus,” says a colonel with the Strategic Communication Department.

The National Crisis Management Center and the National Security Service also receive public reports of disinformation on social media, conduct analyses, and coordinate with the police and the prosecutor’s office to determine whether action is needed.

ECONOMY - EURO ADOPTION – MEASURES

Trud: Two state regulators will discuss urgent measures to counter speculation in the process of the upcoming introduction of the euro in Bulgaria.

During a working meeting, the chairpersons of the Commission for Protection of Competition (CPC) and the Commission for Consumer Protection (CCP) will discuss coordinated actions against price increases.

The two state institutions will outline specific measures, within their authority, to prevent unjustified price hikes until the end of the year.

The introduction of a monitoring mechanism based on price indicators will also be discussed, which would continue to operate after the adoption of the euro, aiming to protect consumers and ensure competition among traders, suppliers, and producers.

The newly appointed chairperson of the Commission for Protection of Competition, Rosen Karadimov, identified as a priority the fight against speculative price increases of goods and services before and after the introduction of the European currency, during his parliamentary hearing as a candidate for the position.

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Bulgarian National Radio contributes to the topic by quoting Karadimov as saying that: “At the moment, there is a legislative barrier between these two things. If the cancellation of information becomes possible with the National Revenue Agency, which the CPC currently cannot do, for example, if someone rounds 2 leva to 2 euros, the CPC alone has no grounds to react. But if the neighboring merchant also rounds 2 leva to 2 euros, this becomes a prohibited practice. And then I promise you, the Competition Protection Commission will step in with full force,” explained Karadimov, who now chairs the CPC.

Rosen Karadimov also called for legislative changes to improve cooperation and information exchange between institutions.

Maria Filipova, chairwoman of the CCP, explained that after the release of the country’s convergence report, a national awareness campaign about the euro introduction process will begin.

“It will reach every settlement — my team and I will visit 300 populated places within 30 calendar days to hear questions not only from people but also from merchants, and provide answers to ensure predictability, transparency, and clarity,” said Maria Filipova.

ANTI-CORRUPTION FUND INVESTIGATION

Capital: The Anti-Corruption Fund (ACF) has uncovered a hidden energy holding allegedly controlled by Bulgarian businessman Hristo Kovachki, involving over 150 companies. Though officially uninvolved, internal documents show Kovachki making all key decisions. The holding includes coal plants, gas and electricity traders, and various other firms, with some managers owing millions to the entities they run. The report reveals illegal financial incentives, tax fraud, CO₂ quota manipulations, and leaks to EU prosecutors.  

POLITICS

Journalist Vesselin Stoynev stated on NOVA TV that the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) led by Ahmed Dogan struggles with political leadership and may have a last chance to consolidate under a new name, after the court ended the case over the MRF trademark. PR expert Nidal Algafari believes a new party would not be strong, as Dogan’s influence has waned.

Algafari predicts more departures from MRF, with Dzhevdet Chakarov not being the last to leave.

OFFNews editor-in-chief Vladimir Yonchev expressed doubts about MRF’s internal changes, suggesting that quick explanations blaming prosecutorial pressure may be false.

Deputy editor of the 24 Chasa daily newspaper, Yuri Velev, noted a “limit to tolerance” within MRF, questioning if they could regain political strength, while remarking that some MPs suddenly appear independent despite dependencies.

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Bulgarian National TV reports a scandal in Parliament on Thursday morning, which almost led to physical altercations between MPs from Vazrazhdane and Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB), prompted by the question of the teaching of Russian in Bulgarian schools.

Parliament Chair Nataliya Kiselova issued a reprimand due to the use of offensive language by Vazrazhdane MPs Ivaylo Papov and Kostadin Kostadinov, as well as by Manol Peykov from CC-DB. The scandal was sparked by a declaration from Vazrazhdane opposing CC-DB’s outrage over the fact that many children in Bulgaria study Russian.

From the podium, Ivaylo Papov called CC-DB deputies “Janissaries.” Kiselova reprimanded him for the “insulting words.” Kostadinov defended him and repeated the insult, receiving the same reprimand.

Tempers calmed briefly, but then Tzoncho Ganev resumed the topic, stating that banning a language study would lead to civil war. This provoked Manol Peykov (CC-DB) to take the podium and call them “low-quality liars,” along with other offensive insults. This ignited the situation further.

Vazrazhdane’s MPs rushed toward Peykov at the podium. Thanks to the intervention of the parliamentary marshals, a physical confrontation was avoided. Kiselova called for a 15-minute break and also reprimanded Manol Peykov.

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Duma leads with a story recapping the ongoing visit of Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Zafirov and his delegation began to Tajikistan and a list of the meetings held there.

NEW F-16 FIGHTER – FIRST FLIGHT IN BULGARIA

The major media outlets cover the first flight in Bulgarian airspace of the recently acquired F-16 fighter jet.

bTV: The Bulgarian F-16 Block 70 fighter jet has made its first flight in the country on Wednesday afternoon, according to a statement by Ministry of Defense.

“The technical acceptance procedure for the F-16 Block 70 aircraft with tail number 301 has been completed, and currently the flight acceptance procedure of the aircraft is underway,” the statement adds.

The Ministry also notes that all activities are carried out in accordance with the regulatory documents for the acceptance of equipment into service.

Photographers captured the flights. On Facebook, one of them wrote: “Today [Wednesday] at 16:57, the first Bulgarian F-16 took off from the 3rd Air Base Graf Ignatievo for its first flight on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria. Wishing safe and trouble-free flights!”

Earlier this month, information surfaced claiming the Bulgarian fighter jet was malfunctioning. Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov responded that the flight acceptance process of the fighter jet is about to begin and that all technical systems will be checked.

“Once that is completed, the pilots will have to fly jointly with American instructors, after which we will also accept the aircraft for flight. We will put it into service and operation,” Minister Zapryanov clarified at the time.

WEATHER

24 Chasa leads with a story about the weather, which is expected to warm up, exceeding 30C next week.