Pavlova was extremely negative in her reply, saying that she didn’t even want to talk about it, and that it spread ‘hate speech’ and ‘fake news’, and that its initiator worked “against his country”.
Pavlova was answering a question by Finnish journalist Pekka Mykkanen who asked her about this website and more in general about the poor record of Bulgaria in terms of media freedom.
Pavlova said nothing about media freedom, but was obviously happy to attack the website. She said:
“I don’t even want to mention that website, because I’m not in favour of promoting any kind of initiative of someone who is trying really to work against his country. It is not the official website of the Presidency. This website, even though it’s duplicating the name of the Bulgarian Presidency, it is not the official site, and it is not the site who should be taken into consideration of having any national presidency position on any topic. We do have an official website and this is the only website presenting the Bulgarian positions or the Presidency conclusions. I don’t think there is a need to talk about it or promote something because with you, we rely on you and that the freedom of media does not mean that we shall have to allow hate speech, and we have to allow fake news.”
As the initiator of this website, I would like to say that my main motivation to start the project is the dismal situation with media freedom in Bulgaria, described in a White Paper published yesterday. I’m not surprised that Pavlova said nothing about the situation with media freedom in Bulgaria.
Unfortunately, media freedom in Bulgaria has constantly deteriorated since the country joined the EU. The 2017 media freedom index of Reporters Without Borders ranks Bulgaria as number 109. This is what Reporters without borders say about Bulgaria: “Bulgaria is ranked lower in the World Press Freedom Index than any other European Union member. This is due to an environment dominated by corruption and collusion between media, politicians, and oligarchs”.
The situation with media freedom in Bulgaria has constantly deteriorated in recent years. When Bulgaria joined in 2007, it was ranked 51st.
My motivation is therefore to fill to the extent possible the void in terms of free and independent reporting about the presidency, and about Bulgaria in general. I’m not doing this alone, as three Bulgarian journalists are contributing to the website from Sofia. I’m not “working against my country”, we are rendering a service to our country. I consider this as my duty as a journalist and as a citizen.
Regarding the name of the website, it was Pavlova herself who said that the Bulgarian Presidency is not of the government, it’s of everybody. I clearly indicate that this is “a journalistic project to monitor and accompany the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU”.
After consulting with lawyers, I could take Pavlova to a Belgian court (not a Bulgarian one) for defamation. I am also Belgian national, my website is run from Belgium, and I consider her comments detrimental to my work.
Signed: Georgi Gotev
Lilyana Pavlova’s statement is a confirmation of the poor record of media freedom in Bulgaria.
And, besides, Mr GOTEV, in Brussels we all know about your clear sense of deontology, your professionalism and your probity!
Probably the reason why that lady doesn4t have a clue about what freedom of speech and media even means….!!!!!
Freedom of speech is about letting everyone have their opinion and everyone’s right to voice their opinion, as long as someone doesn’t give a kill order publicly or a call to unnecessary violence, or something extreme like that. This whole notion of banning “hate speech” that you don’t like only proves the lack of media freedom and the fact that our politicians like to function as a communist government that forbids critique and severely punishes those who have a different opinion.
It is worth noting that the same Lilyana Pavlova until recently was the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works responsible for the major construction projects funded by EU. It is a known story in Bulgaria how these multimillion tenders are assigned and the level of corruption . Her ‘demotion’ to the current role was after the latest accusations against her ministry in the press and social media.
While insisting on her exclusif right to tackle with the Presidency, Minister Pavlova creates sort of censorship and monopol attitude towards freedom of expression; she is hardly Milenthe only Bulgarian who has the right to express his/her vision on EU matters. Pity that an experienced politician still divides the media and consemns as enemies those who do not boast her. With such a ruler, it would be hard to believe that the Presidency of the Council of the EU speaks out on behalf of all citizens.