Bulgaria Seeks EU Assistance to Combat Russian Interference in Elections

Bulgaria has reached out to the European Union with an official request for assistance in preventing possible Russian interference in the parliamentary elections set for April 19 this year. This information was reported by Politico, as referenced by 'European Truth'. In their appeal, Bulgarian officials asked the EU's diplomatic service for support in identifying and stopping campaigns by foreign entities attempting to manipulate public opinion through social media and propaganda websites.

In the request sent to the European External Action Service, Bulgaria emphasized the need for help in coordinating the work of security services tasked with detecting and analyzing interference campaigns. This service has previously been used to protect countries like Moldova from Moscow's influence. Furthermore, Bulgaria has asked the EU to activate a process known as the 'Rapid Response System' under the Digital Services Act (DSA). This will enable Bulgarian officials to meet with representatives of major social media platforms such as Meta, Google, TikTok, and others, to identify and halt disinformation campaigns.

One official, who wished to remain anonymous due to the confidentiality of the information, noted that Bulgaria 'has always remained silent on this issue and denied any interference', but now the country has become more sensitive to the matter. This indicates a shift in the Bulgarian government's approach to the problem of external influence on domestic affairs.

Last week, the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs established a temporary unit that will coordinate responses to foreign interference. Investigative journalist Hristo Grozev, known for his expertise in detecting and documenting election manipulation cases, has been brought in for consultations with this unit.

The parliamentary elections in Bulgaria, scheduled for April 19, will mark the eighth such election in the last five years. In these elections, the main competitors will be former President Rumen Radev and the leader of the center-right party Boyko Borisov. According to preliminary polls, the coalition led by Rumen Radev has a strong chance of a successful debut, as he resigned on January 19.

Additionally, last week, it was reported that 30 individuals were detained in Bulgaria on suspicion of vote-buying ahead of the upcoming elections. These events underscore the importance of ensuring the integrity and transparency of the electoral process in the country, especially in the context of external pressure.

For more details on the situation in Bulgaria and the potential implications of the elections, read the article: 'Bulgaria on the Brink of a Shift: Why a Pro-Russian Comeback is Possible'. Subscribe to 'European Truth' to stay updated on the latest news.