The Union of Publishers in Bulgaria has spread a sharp position on the attacks of the National Revenue Agency and the State Agency for National Security against Eurocom. In it, they strongly express their disagreement with this form of pressure on independent media. The organization states:
“The request for information about the advertisers of three shows – “Euro DikoF“ hosted by Sasho Dikov, „Honestly“ hosted by Luba Kulezic and „Weekly with Bereanu“ hosted by Vladimir Bereanu, as well as other external productions, is not just a demonstration of „Interest“ in certain journalists by SANS, but also pressure on TV advertisers. Advertisers are the ones who make it possible for a media that is not on a government feeder to survive.”
Targeting state institutions against companies just because they have decided to advertise in a particular media is a serious threat to the existence of any free media, according to the Publishers’ Union. They call on SANS and the NRA not to spend Bulgarian taxpayers’ money, becoming machines for fulfilling political orders against the media. The use of the state machine against independent media is the main reason for the unenviable state of freedom of speech in Bulgaria.
