Bulgaria

Bulgaria's Parliament has adopted changes to the penal code that have introduced jail time for journalists and writers who instigate hatred, discrimination or violence - and could be used to impose controls on the media, says the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI). While the previous law covered only racial discrimination, the...

The police in Bulgaria recently confiscated copies of news bulletin Macedonia Voice, according to delayed reports received by the Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE) . According to reports in the local press, and a statement issued by United Macedonian Diaspora (UMD) based in Washington, D.C., officers of the State Agency for National Security (DANS) entered the Iranik-M printing house...

A bill was adopted by the Bulgarian cabinet on October 20 that would amend the criminal code section dealing with “crimes against the national and racial equality” of the country’s citizens. Prompted by Council of Europe recommendations, it would increase the penalties for discriminatory statements in the media to four years in prison and a fine of 5,000 to 19,000 levas (2,000 to 5,000 euros)...