The ambassador of the Russian Federation in our country, Eleonora Mitrofanova, was summoned to the Farnesina for the journalist Hristo Grozev, declared wanted by Moscow. This was reported to BNT by the ministry.
“In connection with the announced federal search of the Bulgarian investigative journalist Hristo Grozev by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, we inform you that the Ambassador of Russia in Sofia, Eleonora Mitrofanova, has been summoned for a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the first working day after the holidays,” the position read. there
The ministry’s announcement came after several parties and an NGO on Tuesday called for the state to intervene to protect the Bulgarian journalist.
Yesterday the deputy of “Democratic Bulgaria” Bozhidar Bojanov sent a parliamentary question to the Farnesina whether he will summon the ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova to explain why the Russian Federation is looking for the Bulgarian journalist Hristo Grozev.
“Hristo Grozev has been persona non grata in Russia since 2016, that is, it is not possible that he entered Russian territory”, recalls the deputy and adds: “The Kremlin certainly does not like Grozev after the many revelations about the operations of Russian intelligence agents in Europe , but to such an action one must react decisively. “
The Russian ambassador to Bulgaria should be summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs over the case of Bulgarian citizen and journalist Hristo Grozev, GERB insisted in his position posted on the Facebook profile of party leader Boyko Borisov.
“We insist that the Bulgarian authorities react harshly to Hristo Grozev’s attempt at intimidation and self-destruction! Bulgaria must not ignore the case of Hristo Grozev! Through its MEPs, GERB will present the European People’s Party and our European partners and we will publicize all European institutions!” reads GERB’s position.
A reaction from the Bulgarian state in the case of journalist Hristo Grozev was also requested on Tuesday by “Let’s keep the change going”.
“The DPS says that the Bulgarian state must categorically protect its citizens and insists on clarifying the case of journalist Hristo Grozev. The Foreign Minister must react immediately. The protection of fundamental freedoms and civil rights, the right to defend a journalistic position objective are one of the top priorities of the DPS and we will not stop calling on state institutions to be active. The DPS, as part of the European liberal family, will insist on a common European position on the case,” reports DPS leader Mustafa Karadayi on his profile Personal Facebook.
Hristo Grozev, journalist of the investigative site Bellingcat, has been declared wanted by Russia. A statement from the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs said that Grozev was wanted for violating an article of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Russia has declared Bellingcat a “foreign agent” media outlet and its activities have been declared “undesirable” by Russia’s Attorney General’s Office.
The Association of European Journalists – Bulgaria also insists that the Bulgarian authorities react immediately to the news that Hristo Grozev, an investigative journalist of the “Bellingcat” website, has been declared wanted by the Russian government. The competence of Bulgaria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is to request information and protest the actions in front of the Russian ambassador, the association says.
Chief Prosecutor Ivan Geshev commented on Twitter on the announcement of Russia’s search for Bulgarian investigative journalist Hristo Grozev.
“Bulgaria respects basic European values such as the rule of law and human rights. This precludes prosecution on political grounds of investigative journalists for their work in the interests of democracy,” wrote the Attorney General.
Geshev also shared a link to information about Grozev’s awarding in November 2022 for the “Bellingkat” journalistic investigation.
