Inserting Bulgarian investigative journalist Christo Grozev on Russia’s “wanted” list is an unacceptable “assault on freedom of speech,” appearing Bulgarian Prime Minister Galab Donev mentioned Thursday.
“I wish to be aware that Bulgaria has not been knowledgeable by the established channels by the Russian aspect concerning the fees towards Mr. Grozev,” Donev mentioned as he opened a authorities assembly. “For us this act is unacceptable, it represents an assault on freedom of speech and an try to intimidate a Bulgarian citizen.”
On Monday, Russia placed Grozev, who’s the lead Russia investigator on the journalism group Bellingcat, on its “wished” listing, in accordance with Russia’s Inside Ministry. Info revealed on the ministry’s web site mentioned he was “wished beneath an article of the Legal Code,” with out specifying the precise article.
Russian ambassador Eleonora Mitrofanova has been summoned to the Bulgarian Ministry of International Affairs “for a proof on the case,” Donev mentioned, including that it’s going to “categorical official protest” towards the search warrant and demand on receiving extra data.
After assembly Bulgarian officers Thursday, Mitrofanova advised journalists she had no data why Grozev was wished. She mentioned he’s wished solely in Russia and not different nations, in accordance with Bulgarian state broadcaster BNT.
The “Russian ambassador says she would not know why I’m on Russia’s ‘Needed’ listing, however that ‘we cannot chase him around the globe, and this simply implies that yet another time we’re telling him he is not wished right here,'” Grozev tweeted Thursday. “So.. they ‘need’ me, to inform me they not ‘need’ me?”
After Mitrofanova’s feedback to reporters, the Russian Embassy in Bulgaria’s capital of Sofia launched a press release.
It mentioned that Moscow had “clarified the scenario with H. Grozev, emphasizing {that a} violation of Russian laws results in corresponding authorized penalties, impartial of the kind of exercise of the accused/suspect individual or his citizenship,” in accordance with BNT.
The embassy additionally mentioned “it’s not about intimidation of the journalist or any menace to his life,” in accordance with the Bulgarian state media outlet.
