(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is a 13 April 2001 IFJ media release, followed by a copy of the organisation’s letter to Bulgarian Prime Minister Ivan Kostov on the case: IFJ Condemns Political Interference at Bulgarian Radio As Court Backs Journalists – 19 Protesters Forced Out – Supreme Court Declares Against the Managing Director – Journalists […]
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is a 13 April 2001 IFJ media release, followed by a copy of the organisation’s letter to Bulgarian Prime Minister Ivan Kostov on the case:
IFJ Condemns Political Interference at Bulgarian Radio As Court Backs Journalists
– 19 Protesters Forced Out
– Supreme Court Declares Against the Managing Director
– Journalists Replaced by Workers Loyal to the Ruling Party
In a letter to the Bulgarian Prime Minister today, the International Federation of Journalists fiercely condemned the management at the Bulgarian National Radio, which has continued to sack protesting journalists even though a Supreme Court has backed their protests against the managing director.
The IFJ also accused the management of replacing the BNR protesters with journalists loyal to the governing party.
Journalists at the radio station have been protesting since February 6 against the appointment of Ivan Borislavov as the new Managing Director. They celebrated a legal victory on April 5, when the Supreme Court said his appointment was illegal, a decision that calls into question all the internal management changes made by Borislavov.
However, the Managing Board of the BNR responded to this setback by dismissing six protesters on April 10, bringing to 19 the total number of sackings since the newsroom revolt began. They have brought in replacement journalists employed by the Demokratsia, a daily newspaper until recently owned by the governing party, the Union of Democratic Forces. Parliamentary elections are set for June 17.
“The Supreme Court decision undermines the legitimacy of the new managing board, yet the board responds with further victimisation of journalists. It is an outrageous abuse of authority. Management should reinstate the sacked journalists,” said Aidan White, General Secretary of the IFJ.
He said the IFJ deplored the political interference at Bulgarian Radio. “Two months before the elections, the state radio is being packed with journalists loyal to the governing party.”
The IFJ says there is convincing evidence of direct political manipulation by the government, which is trying to stall resolution of the dispute until after the elections. “What is at stake are the professional rights and livelihoods of journalists and the long term credibility of the Bulgarian National Radio,” said Aidan White.
For a full report on the crisis at the BNR, visit the IFJ web-site at www.ifj.org/working/issues/broadcasting/broadcasting.html
Ivan Kostov
Prime Minister of Bulgaria
13 April 2001
Dear Prime Minister,
The International Federation of Journalists, the world’s largest journalists’ organisation, is deeply concerned by the actions of the Board of Management at Bulgarian National Radio and the replacement of BNR protesters by journalists working for the Demokratsia.
According to our information, a further six BNR journalists were dismissed this week, just days after the Bulgarian Supreme Court judged the appointment of Ivan Borislavov to be illegal. This brings the total number of journalists forced out of the radio to 19.
Equally disturbing is the news that journalists from the Demokratsia, a daily newspaper close to the governing party, the Union of Democratic Forces, are replacing the protesters at the BNR.
It is unacceptable that five days after the Supreme Court ruling in support of the protesters, the management board is able to continue sacking protesters. Instead the board should immediately suspend actions against the protesters and enter into dialogue with them.
Meanwhile, the recruitment of journalists from the Demokratsia provides compelling evidence of direct political manipulation by the management of the BNR.
The IFJ condemns these developments and demands that Bulgaria subscribe to the widely-respected European principles of professional independence in the administration of public broadcasting.
We believe that all of the dismissed journalists should be reinstated, that the process of replacement by journalists hired from a news organ close to the governing party should cease, and that immediate steps should be taken to create a working relationship between journalists and management.
Yours Sincerely,
Aidan White
General Secretary
