(RSF/IFEX) – According to information released by RSF on 16 April 1998, Yovka Atanassova, managing director of the daily “Starozagorsky Novini”, in the southern Bulgarian town of Stara Zagora, was sentenced in mid-April 1998 to an effective five month jail sentence under a three-year suspended term. The sentence was handed down to Atanassova for libeling […]
(RSF/IFEX) – According to information released by RSF on 16 April 1998,
Yovka Atanassova, managing director of the daily “Starozagorsky Novini”, in
the southern Bulgarian town of Stara Zagora, was sentenced in mid-April 1998
to an effective five month jail sentence under a three-year suspended term.
The sentence was handed down to Atanassova for libeling local businessman
Ivan Ivanov, after her newspaper published several articles about him.
Atanassova was sentenced to pay 500,000 leva ( 1,675 French francs) in
damages and 104,000 leva (335 French francs) in court costs.
**Updates IFEX alerts of 19 June 1997 and 19 January 1998**
Four other sentences are pending against Yovka Atanassova in twelve
different cases. Almost all of them were brought under articles 146 and 148
and of the Bulgarian criminal code, concerning libel and insult. If these
sentences are confirmed, the journalist could spend thirteen months in jail.
Bulgarian President Petar Stoyanov recently asked legislators to stop
criminal prosecution of journalists in the courts. There were approximately
105 such cases in 1997.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
sentences for libel and insult under the Bulgarian criminal code
Appeals To
Vasil Gotzev
Ministry of Justice
Sofia, Bulgaria
Fax : +359 2767 32 26
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
