Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

BNR Director General: The decision not to air the interview with the Russian ambassador is because of non-compliance with journalistic standards

Milen Mitev
Photo: BNR

“There is freedom of speech at the BNR and the radio show Politically Incorrect is vivid proof that this is so,” said the Director General of the Bulgarian National Radio Milen Mitev in a comment on the decision of the BNR prorgamme council for an interview with Russian ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova not to be aired.

He explained that 15 of the council members voted for this decision, and one abstained, and that the motives not to broadcast the pre-recorded interview is “non-compliance with journalistic standards”. “Every media outlet works according to rules, some of which are the editorial standards. The authority which decides whether they have been observed or not is the programme council,” BNR’s director general said. Milen Mitev expressed the hope that as long as he is director general there will be no talk of “shutting down shows because of the things being said in them.”

“I cannot express a categorical position before I know the details of this decision and the reasons for it,” commented on her part Sonya Momchilova, chair of the media watchdog – the Council for Electronic Media. She added that she hoped the question is of observing standards but did not rule out the possibility that “the dreadful, sinister diagnosis – self-censorship”, identified by the Association of European Journalists in a survey, has been spreading.



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

The "Spartan" aircraft transports five seriously injured fire victims from North Macedonia to Bulgarian hospitals

The "Spartan" aircraft of the Bulgarian Air Force has left for North Macedonia on the orders of Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov, the government's press service announced. It will transport five seriously injured victims of the fire at a nightclub in the..

published on 3/16/25 5:06 PM
Health Minister Silvi Kirilov

Coordination team led by health minister mobilises to aid fire victims in North Macedonia

The Bulgarian Ministry of Health has organised medical assistance for those injured in the nightclub fire in northern Macedonia. The tragedy, which occurred overnight in the town of Kočani, claimed the lives of more than 50 people and left more than 100..

published on 3/16/25 2:40 PM

Bulgaria offers assistance to North Macedonia following Kočani nightclub tragedy

In response to the tragedy in North Macedonia, where more than 50 people lost their lives in a fire at a nightclub in the town of Kočani, Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev offered condolences and assistance to the families and relatives of the victims,..

published on 3/16/25 12:53 PM