site.btaExperts Warn of Intensifying Russian Hybrid Warfare against Bulgaria

There is an intensification of Russia’s hybrid war against Bulgaria, said Momchil Doichev, co-chair of the Atlantic Council of Bulgaria (ACB), at a press conference held at the BTA National Press Club on Thursday. This war is being waged through trolls, bots, and so-called "mushroom sites" (websites that spring up overnight), and false information is being spread about the war in Ukraine, Doichev stated. He noted that this is part of a centuries-old Russian tradition in conductive subversive hybrid operations.

The Atlantic Council is actively opposing this. "We are fighting against the myths embedded in our education system, including the one of Russia the liberator," Doichev added.

"Russophilia in our country is a form of national betrayal with no equivalent. After the collapse of communism, a post-Soviet model became entrenched here," he said. According to him, the so-called 'kopeyki' (a slang term for pro-Russian sympathizers) dominate the media landscape, tacitly supported by various institutions, including the presidency, political parties, security services, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, and others. "We are increasingly seeing verbal aggression escalate into physical acts," said Doichev, linking this trend to the political party Vazrazhdane.

The Atlantic Council has analyzed nearly 50,000 articles published over a four-year period on the website Pogled.info. "Many of them were republished from Russian media outlets, most of which are under EU sanctions. This includes over 23,000 articles," said Ivan Anchev, the ACB’s other co-chair. He stated that this constitutes a serious violation of several EU regulations and Bulgarian law.

"The enemy is no longer at the gate - it is inside our home," Anchev declared. He added that a formal complaint would be filed with the Communications Regulation Commission, the State Agency for National Security, and the Prosecutor’s Office based on the findings of their study.

Not all internet service providers have restricted access to sanctioned media outlets, noted digital marketing expert Genadiy Vorobyov. According to him, the hybrid war affects everyone who has a phone in their hand.