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RSF - Reporters sans frontières
04/15/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/15/2026 11:14
Bulgaria: ahead of 19 April elections, RSF calls on political parties to commit to reforms as press freedom levels remain among the worst in the EU
As Bulgaria's parliamentary elections approach on 19 April, a new abusive lawsuit against an investigative journalist has underscored the long-standing pressure on the media in the country. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is issuing ten policy recommendations to the political parties contesting the elections on how to improve press freedom, which is vital to maintaining a transparent, functioning democracy.
Ranked 70th out of 180 countries in the 2025 RSF World Press Freedom Index, Bulgaria is among the three lowest-ranked European Union (EU) member states. Five years of chronic political instability - seven snap elections have occurred since 2021 - have prevented the structural reforms needed to safeguard media freedom. Journalists are frequently intimidated and threatened, especially those reporting on crime and corruption, most recently evidenced by the alarming legal harassment of investigative reporter Dimitar Stoyanov.
"Media freedom levels in Bulgaria have remained among the worst in the EU for years due to the inaction of authorities, leaving it vulnerable to hostile politicians, wayward business interests and Russian propaganda. Unless systemic measures are taken to protect it, independent journalism will continue to wither - along with citizens' right to information. We offer a blueprint for action that should appeal to any political party or movement that considers itself democratic.
Pavol Szalai
Director, RSF Prague Bureau
Silencing the press through abusive lawsuits
On 7 April 2026, the investigative outlet Bird.bg reported that the District Court of Burgas, an eastern city, had frozen the bank accounts of staff reporter Dimitar Stoyanov. The measure relates to five of ten civil defamation lawsuits filed against the journalist in the span of just two working days in February 2026 by local businessman Nikolay Filipov, who has been the subject of Bird.bg's investigations into alleged corruption - with connections to law enforcement and the judiciary - and fuel smuggling. The total amount of the claims reaches approximately 50,000 EUR.
Like Dimitar Stoyanov, journalists in Bulgaria often face lawsuits intended to silence them, known as strategic litigation against public participation, or SLAPP suits. The Balkan state, which joined the European Union (EU) in 2007, has yet to transpose the EU Anti-SLAPP Directive into national law, despite a 7 May 2026 deadline.
Ten recommendations to protect press freedom
These RSF recommendations were developed in consultation with Bulgarian journalists, building on a joint international fact-finding mission to Sofia in October 2025 and drawing on previous RSF proposals. RSF calls on all political parties to commit to the following:
1. Transpose the EU Anti-SLAPP Directive and adopt comprehensive anti-SLAPP legislation
2. Fully implement the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA)
3. Guarantee the independence and sustainable funding of public service media
4. Strengthen the independence and resources of the media regulator
5. Ensure transparent media ownership and fair distribution of state advertising
6. Protect journalists' safety and end impunity for crimes intended to silence them
7. Strengthen access to public information
8. Combat disinformation and foreign propaganda
9. Fully decriminalise defamation
10. Support media sustainability, pluralism and ethical standards
Published on 15.04.2026
RSF - Reporters sans frontières published this content on April 15, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on April 15, 2026 at 17:14 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]