Bulgaria’s overseas ministry summons Russian envoy as PM calls focusing on of investigative reporter Christo Grozev ‘an assault on freedom of speech’.
Bulgaria’s Ministry of International Affairs has summoned Russia’s ambassador to protest in opposition to Moscow’s determination to place Bulgarian investigative journalist Christo Grozev on an inventory of wished individuals.
The ministry’s transfer on Thursday got here after Grozev, chief investigator on Russia for the Bellingcat information outlet, was designated as “wished beneath an article of the Felony Code”, in response to info printed on Russia’s inside ministry web site this week.
Grozev’s reporting has targeted this yr on alleged Russian conflict crimes in Ukraine. He has beforehand carried out investigations into the poisonings of opposition politician Alexey Navalny and former Russian spy Sergei Skripal. Russia has denied accountability for these poisonings.
Interim Prime Minister Galab Donev stated Bulgaria would demand info from Russia on why Grozev had been placed on the checklist. Donev stated Bulgaria had not been knowledgeable via official channels by Moscow about any fees introduced in opposition to the 53-year-old.
“This act is unacceptable. It represents an assault on freedom of speech and an try and intimidate a Bulgarian citizen,” Donev instructed reporters on Thursday.
‘They’re terrified of our work’
Grozev, who retains his whereabouts hidden for safety causes, stated including him to the wished checklist is likely to be a transfer to stop different journalists from trying into what is occurring in Russia.
“For years they’ve made it clear they’re terrified of our work and would cease at nothing to make it go away,” he stated in a tweet.
Grozev “focuses on safety threats, extra-territorial clandestine operations, and the weaponisation of data”, in response to Bellingcat’s web site.
Talking to Bulgaria’s NOVA TV tv channel from an unknown location on Wednesday, Grozev stated he was afraid for his life and folks on their very own initiative would possibly wish to do “a favour to the Kremlin” and try and kill or abduct him.
He added that he had been supplied assist by the Netherlands, Sweden, Estonia and Austria, the place he has been residing lately.
The workplace of Bulgaria’s president stated Sofia was additionally taking steps to make sure his safety.
Russia’s ambassador to Bulgaria, Eleonora Mitrofanova, stated that whereas Grozev was now not welcome in Russia, it “doesn’t imply that somebody will seek for him around the globe”.