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

Red Cross vehicles carrying the bodies of two deceased hostages handed over by Hamas

Hamas returns body of hostage who also had Bulgarian citizenship to Israel

Israel announced that it had identified the bodies of hostages Sahar Baruch and Amiram Kuper. They were handed over by Hamas on the evening of October 30 to the Red Cross in Gaza, BTA reported. "Following the identification process..

published on 10/31/25 1:04 PM

The euro will not change real estate prices after January 1, 2026

The real estate market in Bulgaria has been in the eurozone for a long time. Prices will not undergo significant changes after the introduction of the common currency. This was what financier Levon Hampartzoumian said at the 11th..

published on 10/31/25 11:44 AM
Photo: Facebook/Consulate General of Bulgaria in Los Angeles

November is the Month of Bulgarian-American Friendship in Las Vegas and Clark County

At the initiative of the Consul General of Bulgaria in Los Angeles Boyko Hristov, the month of November 2025 has been officially declared the "Month of Bulgarian-American Friendship" in Las Vegas and Clark County - one of the most..

published on 10/31/25 11:33 AM